2012 Rhys "Home Vineyard" San Mateo County Pinot Noir

Orange rind, graphite, pine, mint and crushed rocks jump from the glass in the 2012 Pinot Noir Home Vineyard. One of the more vibrant, chiseled wines in the range, the Home will benefit from further time in bottle. The translucent, crystalline finish is a thing of beauty. In this vintage, the Home was done with 100% whole clusters. Quite remarkably, the Home Vineyard lies just 400 yards away from Family Farm, separated by the San Andreas Fault, yet the wines from these two sites are completely different. (AG) (7/2014)

Coming from Kevin's first estate vineyard that was planted in 1995, the 2012 Pinot Noir Home Vineyard (100% whole cluster) is decidedly fresh and lively, with tangy acidity in its black cherry, currants, pine, sappy underbrush and earthy aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, lively, structured and still backwards, with plenty of polished tannin that build on the mid-palate and finish, this Burgundian lookalike needs short-term cellaring and will have 10-15 years of overall longevity. This site shares similarities to the Family Farm Vineyard, yet the soil here is more decomposed sandstone and clay, and the wines are distinctly different. 93+ (JD) (4/2015)

Deep red. Powerful scents of red fruit liqueur, Asian spices, violet and woodsmoke are lifted by a stony nuance. In the mouth, vibrant cherry and floral pastille flavors are joined by a building touch of spicecake. Dusty tannins add grip to the extremely long finish, which strongly echoes the floral and spicecake notes. This youthful wine is built to age. (ST) (5/2014)

The wood treatment is more obvious though it remains subtle as it allows the notably ripe aromas of plum, dark chocolate, dried flowers and essence of black cherry to shine. There is a sleek mouth feel to the voluminous and beautifully detailed flavors that possess fine mid-palate concentration and really lovely depth and length. The intensity does a slow build from the mid-palate to the beautifully long finale and about the only nit is a discreet hint of warmth. Drink: 2020+ (1/2015)