2021 Rhys "Alpine Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay

Another spectacular white wine from Rhys, the 2021 Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard is a fascinating counterpoint to the Horseshoe bottling. Of the two, the Alpine is the more aromatically dazzling out of the gate, with all manner of herbal, floral, chalky, citrus and orchard fruit aromas immediately jumping from the glass. Texturally, the palate shows a graceful, floating quality that juxtaposes the mid-palate assertiveness of the Horseshoe. The finish is long and spherical, concluding on a distinctive note of spearmint and menthol, with spice notes appearing and building with extended oxygen exposure. This is a fantastic effort all around and one that, as with its somewhat nearby neighbor, should be aged for another five years and eagerly consumed over the next 10. (ML) 96+

The golden yellow 2021 Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard has an expressive and luxurious nose of lemon balm, custard, wet stones, and candied green apple. Persistent and long, it expands on the back palate, with lemon balm, savory saline, a soft texture, and a great, salty lift on the finish. It's a very persistent yet elegant wine that's going to mature at a slow pace over the next 10-12 years. (AF)