"Deeply colored. A notably more soil-inflected nose of primarily blue berry, violet and an interesting spice/floral component introduces rich, full-bodied, robust and serious middle weight flavors that possess ample amounts of dry extract that buffer the dusty, firm and buried tannins before culminating in a mouth coating and youthfully austere finish. This is impressive and the only nit is a touch of finishing warmth … The estate wines of Rhys Vineyards are made from biodynamically farmed fruit and owner Kevin Harvey and winemaker Jeff Brinkman continue to drive the wines to new heights … Harvey has chosen his vineyard sites with a keen eye and then obsessively developed them with the one goal of obtaining fruit that expresses unerringly the uniqueness of site. Simply put, these are terroir-driven wines par excellence … As someone who samples hundreds of examples every year, I can tell you that it's extremely rare yet these wines are phenolically ripe and beautifully balanced. I am excited to see what the Rhys '08s become in 10 years as they are unapologetically built to age."
Antonio Galloni
AG93
"Bright violet. High-pitched, sexy aromas of black raspberry, anise, potpourri and minerals. Vivid, sharply focused red and dark berry flavors stain the palate and are braced by tangy acidity, which adds lift and definition. Gains weight and roundness with air while maintaining admirable liveliness and clarity. Finishes with impressive persistence and lingering sweetness. No new oak on this wine." -Vinous
Robert Parker
RP93
"The 2008 Pinot Noir Home Vineyard (37 cases produced) displays more density and less stemminess, even though it is also utilized 100% whole clusters. Abundant aromas of pomegranate and raspberries emerge from this darker, more broodingly backward Pinot." -Robert Parker
