2012 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard, USA, California, Wine Review

There is always a question as to how well white wines age in general and the Rhys chardonnays specifically. This one, anyway, is ageing quite well at age 12. Light gold/green in color, clear and bright. The nose has lemon curd, vanilla and minerality. Full bodied. Good balance. No tannins. On the palate, this is nearing peak but not really showing any signs of old age. Flavors of lemon curd, some citrus, vanilla and char. Long finish. This is deep and complex. Great on its own, better with food. It would be great with sea food, but was also great with Pasta Primavera. I would think it has another ten to fifteen years left but we shall see.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2012

Current Price:

$104.00USD

Top Ten California Chardonnays - 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.

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Napa Valley Chardonnay: Foods to Pair With, and Meals that Call for, Napa Chardonnay

Chardonnay—a chameleon of a grape. There are an especially large number of choices to be made in terms of winemaking when it comes to Chardonnay. It can be still or sparkling. It can be aged in oak or un-oaked, filtered or unfiltered, subject to malolactic fermentation or not. Even the type of oak used, or the decision to keep the wine in contact with dead yeast cells during the winemaking process affects the style of the final product. These factors (not to mention the concept of terroir) result in endless Chardonnay styles that can range from Burgundy’s crisp, austere, mineral-driven wines to Australia’s tropical fruit-packed, viscous style.

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Best Napa Chardonnay (For the Money)

IntoWine.com asked a panel of wine experts for their recommendation for the best Napa Chardonnay (for the money): California Chardonnay has entered a new golden era, and there are terrific, cooler climate examples available from all over the State. These great new Chards tend to be balanced, with minerality and strong acidity, as well as less obtrusive new oak than was the trademark of California Chardonnay even five years ago. Napa does not have a particularly cool climate, so the wines from this region tend to have more ripe, tropical fruit characteristics, and more richness, as well as more of a creamy mouth feel, thanks in large part to the new oak typically used for fermentation and aging. Nonetheless, for those who like the rich, tropical fruit style of Chardonnay, there are some great examples from Napa that are relative values. My top pick for the money is the Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Napa Valley Chardonnay, with the current release going for a relatively reasonable average of $35. Here I get more lemon and lemon cream than super-ripe tropical fruit, but with solid weight and creamy texture. Also quite good but considerably pricier, at about $50, is the Hestan Vineyards Chardonnay, made by sought after Napa winemaking consultant Mark Herold. - Richard Jennings, IntoWine.com Featured Contributor and the Founder RJonWine.com

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2012 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage:

2012

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$110.00USD

Rhys is one of my favorite wines and this particular bottle was opened at a dinner alongside an Aubert and a Marcassin from the same vintage. It was interesting for a few reasons. It really demonstrated the "Burgundyness" of the Rhys wines. It also showed that Rhys can hold its own against the best Chardonnays California produces. It has a silvery green/gold color. The nose has nice lemon cream and vanilla with underlying minerality. Great mouthfeel and texture. On the palate, the lemon cream with a touch of vanilla comes thru. With air some green apple notes emerge. Great balance.

2016 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

From a 375ml bottle. What a great size for a couple of glasses of white wine before moving on to reds. More wineries should produce these and also 500ml. Green gold in color. This is young but already showing a lot. The nose has vanilla and lemon curd. On the palate, great acidity. The lemon curd is strong with lighter vanilla notes. Lovely texture. Long finish. This wine is very food friendly but also will drink well on its own. It should improve over the next few years.

2012 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard, USA, California, Wine Review

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2012 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

2016 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review