Winemaker Notes
Rivaling the quality of the vineyard designated Chardonnays, the Rhys Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay is loaded with floral, stone fruit and rain water aromas. Complex and intense on the palate and framed with good acidity.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Wow, a vivid, mouthwatering white with great breadth and depth on a surprisingly light body. So layered, rich and concentrated, lush in texture yet also lively and buoyant from acidity at the same time. Starts with lemon blossom aromas, then Bosc pears, lemon curd and mineral flavors that linger in the finish. Drink now or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Always a fantastic value, the 2022 Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains overperforms to another level in this vintage. The nose opens on a delicate note, continuously gaining mineral intensity and floral accents over a sturdy core of green and yellow fruits. The palate is beautifully focused and pure, with a layered, multidimensional finish and impressive length and structure.
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Vinous
The 2022 Chardonnay (Santa Cruz Mountains) is generous and inviting. This is a pretty creamy, resonant style for the Santa Cruz Mountains, but it works quite well, especially for an appellation bottling meant to be approachable on release. Lemon confit, marzipan, spice and yellow flowers all build as the 2022 shows off its resonant, ample personality.
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Wine Spectator
Sleek and precise, with pear, Honeycrisp apple and lemon zest flavors, plus notes of orange zest and tangerine, all on a mouthwatering frame, where the acidity provides an appealing backbone. Crunchy sea salt and dried lemon thyme details linger.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A rugged and topographically diverse cool-climate appellation with a rich history, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA stretches from Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, to the northern border of Monterey County. Elevations range from 800 feet to upwards of 3,000 and microclimates vary substantially depending on which side of the mountains the vineyards lie; cool ocean winds and fog play an important role here. This can be a challenging region in which to grow grapes, but it is well worth the effort. Santa Cruz Mountains wines are noted for balanced acidity levels, often showing great aging potential. Wine has been made here since the 1800s, most notably from the legendary Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello vineyard garners international admiration.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the stars of this region, while Merlot and Zinfandel also perform quite well. Organic and sustainable vineyard practices are becoming increasingly common.