Vineyard: Horseshoe

Articles mentioning wines produced from this vineyard

Rhys Vineyards: Raising the Bar (9.36 1/20/2014)
Recent Pinot Noir Wines I Have Enjoyed (12.6 5/25/2020)
Spelunking & Tasting at Rhys Vineyards (9.23 4/13/2013)
California Pinot With Plenty of Noir (8.37 5/13/2011)
Rhys Vineyards: Staking Out Terroir in the Santa Cruz Mountains (7.13 2/25/2009)
Recently Tasted Glorious Chardonnays (11.14 12/3/2017)

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Rhys Vineyards

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2015 Rhys Horseshoe Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay

12.9% alc., $50 (500 ml). · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. Soaring aromas of lemon curd, pineapple, marzipan, vanilla creme and steely resolve. Very bright acidity cuts through the lemon-lime, grapefruit, pear and white nectarine flavors like an arrow. The wine finishes with tart, even somewhat puckering acidity as well as a slight herbal note. For acid lovers only. Score: 90. Reviewed December 3, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 Rhys Horseshoe Vineyard Santa Cru Mountains Chardonnay

13.6% alc., $50 (500 ml). 3.5 acres planted to Wente, Hyde and Mt. Eden clones. 1,450 to 1,500 feet elevation. · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. Enviable aromas of grilled lemon, honey, buttery brioche, nut oil and caramelized custard. Rich flavors of lemon, pear, golden baked apple, honey, caramelized nuts and buttered toast. A decadent and ripely fruited offering with a very lengthy finish replete with lemony goodness. A completely different wine than the 2015 version that is much less ripe and more acid driven. I prefer this one where the acidity is fully integrated. Score: 93. Reviewed December 3, 2017 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Rhys Vineyards Horseshoe Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay

Aromas of lemon curd, apple, and wet stones. Restrained flavors of citrus fruits, green apple and quince with bright acidity on a sharply focused finished. Very classy, very good. Reviewed April 13, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Rhys Vineyards Horseshoe Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

0% whole cluster. · Slight reduction on the nose, disappearing slowly in the glass as fruit appears. The most striking feature of this wine, beyond the delicious dark berry, tea and spice flavors, is the very dry and distinct finish. If you wanted to choose one wine to show a person what “minerality” is, this wine would be a top choice. Exceptional. Reviewed April 13, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 Rhys Horseshoe Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

12.7% alc., $69. The vineyard is 10.85 acres situated at 1450 to 1610 feet elevation with a 10% to 25% slope. Soils are 18” to 24” rocky topsoil over Monterey shale. Clones are Rhys selection and two heritage clones planted with 6’ x 4’ spacing. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Very shy aromas of red and black berries, smoky cave, and forest floor. Enticing flavors of spiced cherry, raspberry and baking spice with a touch of smoky oak in the background. Very appealing elegance and length with impressive fruit intensity and finish. Very silky and seamless with crisp acidity surfacing on the lovely finish. Score: 92. Reviewed January 20, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Rhys Horseshoe Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

13.3% alc., $69. Rhys selections and two heritage clones of Pinot Noir planted in 2004 on 10.85 acres. The defining feature of this vineyard is its intensely rocky soil composed of sedimentary Monterey shale. Elevation is 1,400 to 1,600 feet. All Pinot Noir at Rhys is fermented with native yeast, and aging is carried our in the finest French oak barrels that have been air dried for four full years in Burgundy. The consistency of the barrels implies that the wines are differentiated entirely by the vineyard and not by the barrel. The Pinot Noir wines are typically aged 18 months in barrel. The wines are never fined or filtered.

Note: Eleven years later, Horseshoe Vineyard is considered by the team at Rhys to be “one of the finest sites in California to grow Pinot Noir. The vineyard also produces Chardonnay that is “a stunning example of New World terroir….tremendously complex and invigorating wines. The 2018 vintage of Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is now available as a futures order. Rhys wines are sold exclusively through a mailing list at www.rhysvineyards.com. The winery’s website is one of the most informative I have ever encountered.

· Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. The nose offers aromas of dark berries and cassis with a floral element prominent. The mid weight flavors of blackberry and black cherry are graciously in harmony with the wine’s lacy tannins and steely acidity. This wine is now drinking at its peak and it was only by fate that I decided to open the bottle at its apogee. I wish I had more. Score: 95. Reviewed May 25, 2020 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2008 Rhys Vineyards Horseshoe Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

12.8% alc., $59. 10.85 acres, 1450’-1610’ elevation with 20%-25% slope. Suitcase clones (Swan, Calera and La Tache). 18”-24” rocky top soil over Monterey shale. Yield .7 tons per acre. · Dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Shy nose initially, opening over time to reveal enticing aromas of dark cherries and raspberries, Chinese Five Spice and faint oak. Luscious black raspberry fruit buried in prodigious tannins and bright acidity. About the same the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. I get the feeling this wine will be significantly better in another 3 to 5 years. Very good. Reviewed May 15, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Rhys Vineyards Horseshoe Ranch Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay

13.3% alc.. One barrel this vintage. 100% MLF. · Compared to the Alpine Ranch Chardonnay, this was more fruity and floral while demonstrating less acidity. It was very luscious showing off some tasty brioche, butter, pear and lemon notes. Reviewed February 25, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Rhys Vineyards Horseshoe Ranch Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

12.3% alc., $49. · This wine smells remarkably of damp earth. In the mouth, there are saucy blueberry and cherry fruits surrounded by healthy tannins. The winemaker said he could taste shale in the wine, something I could not confirm because of my limited experience in shale tasting. Heck, I could dig (sic) it and I could tell it was a wine that was clean, pure and pristine with an appealing suave texture. Reviewed February 25, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »