Rhys Alesia Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay 2017
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains Alesia has a touch more depth in its aromas and flavors, offering a ripe bouquet of citrus blossom, honeysuckle, peach, and orange blossoms. Medium-bodied, rounded, and layered, with a terrific mid-palate, it packs plenty of muscle while staying beautifully balanced. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Alesia Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains has a very gregarious nose of honeycomb, orange marmalade and ginger cream with warm peach cobbler, candied citrus, warm hay and crushed stone. "That could be the kiss of the heat spike," says Rhys winemaker Jeff Brinkman of the honeyed character of this vintage. The palate is medium-bodied and gives up intense, savory fruits in the mouth with lots of that honeyed, peachy character, lifted by good freshness and finishing long.
Other Vintages
2018-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
At Rhys Vineyards we aspire to make great Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah from some of California’s most unique and expressive vineyards. This pursuit has led us to search the state for exciting rocky soils that exist within the mountainous, cool, Coastal climate zone. Over the last 15 years we have developed seven estate vineyards, six in the Santa Cruz Mountains and one in Anderson Valley, each of which is capable of producing uniquely compelling, distinctive, soil driven wine.
Their overriding belief that unique vineyard expression is the key to truly great wine leads them to an approach that includes: 1. A relentless, spare-no-expense, focus on producing the best possible fruit in the vineyard; 2. Carefully selected cool weather sites that offer interesting and expressive soil character; 3. Natural winemaking with minimal intervention. These core tenets help produce age-worthy wines that emphasize vineyard expression, balance, fresh fruit, and concentration.
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.