2019 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2019 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard radiates from the glass with classy but eager aromas of green apple, persimmon, nectarine and wet slate. The palate is textural, polished and lifted with diamond-cut precision and framed with incisive, invigorating acidity. The finish balances sun-kissed richness with crisp, zesty structure, endlessly bringing you back to the glass. While the Pinot Noir from this site may have the edge, the Chardonnay is on nearly equal footing in recalibrating what is possible in California.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2019 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard is laced with the essence of crushed rocks, white pepper, orchard fruit, white flowers, chalk and mint. It is a bit less forthcoming than the Alpine Chardonnay. Saline notes build into the palate staining finish. This classically austere young Chardonnay just needs time in bottle. Tasted next to the Alpine, the Horseshoe has more mid-palate weight and feeling of phenolic intensity. The differences between the two are remarkable considering the sites are just 400 yards apart. The Horseshoe is planted on Monterey shale, while the soils at Alpine are Purisima, a formation that is about 8 million years younger. Such is the complexity of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Ripe Meyer lemons, crushed stone, white flower, and exotic spice notes all emerge from the 2019 Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard. Rich and medium-bodied, it has a beautiful mid-palate, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It shows the slightly more rounded, supple style of the vintage, yet I love its density and length. Give it a year or two and enjoy over the following decade.