2022 Rhys Chardonnay Bearwallow Vineyard
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Tasting notes
From the producer's Anderson Valley Deep End estate, owned since 2008, the 2022 Chardonnay Bearwallow Vineyard is a fully developed, rich, and rounded white with beautifully dense, lifted layers of orchard fruit like pear and a hint of anise. The cool-climate specifics amplify the juicy inherent acidity and notes of sea spray and wet stone. This is delicious now and structured to age another 8-10 years. Rhys has two estates in California, one in Anderson Valley called Bearwallow and an estate winery and six estate vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Its Santa Cruz winery, where organic and dry farming are typical, is set across the fault line from Ridge Monte Bello and Mount Eden. The first commercial release was 2004. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and sparkling wines are all made by winemaker Jeff Brinkman and sold direct, with these ocean-influenced wines considered among the finest in the state.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Matthew Luczy, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2022 Chardonnay Bearwallow Vineyard is focused and intense, leading with a high-toned, citrus-tinged and mineral-streaked nose grounded by white peach and Asian pear aromas. The palate is energetic and succulent, exuding poised richness lined with mouth-watering acidity. The finish is both explosive and refined and, to my palate, displays another level of length and nuance from prior vintages.
The 2022 Chardonnay (Anderson Valley) is all elegance, all class. Clean, mineral and bracing, the Bearwallow Chardonnay is especially precise in 2022. Chalk, slate, crushed rocks, lemon peel, mint and white pepper all shape this taut, nervy Chardonnay from Rhys. Time in the glass releases the wine's captivating aromatics and minerally presence. This is a stellar showing. - Antonio Galloni