Awards/Ratings

95 pts — Wine Advocate (Jeb Dunnuck), Oct 2016; 95 pts — Vinous (Antonio Galloni), Jul 2016; 94 pts — John Gilman (View from the Cellar)

Tasting Note

Peppery, gamey and savory with black olive, smoked-meat, lavender and dark-black-fruit notes. Medium–full-bodied with bright minerality, ripe chewy tannins and a long, saline finish reminiscent of cool-climate Northern Rhône styles.

Food Pairing

Western: roast lamb, grilled beef, venison, charcuterie and aged cheeses. Asian: Korean BBQ (bulgogi, galbi), Chinese-style braised beef, Sichuan pepper beef, char siu, grilled lamb skewers.

Production Method

Hand-harvested; 100% whole-cluster fermentation on native yeasts with twice-daily pumpovers; aged ~10 months in neutral barrels then ~12 months in 25 hL casks.

Vineyard Info

Rhys Vineyards (Kevin Harvey), founded 1995. Horseshoe Vineyard planted 2004; high-elevation site on Monterey shale with limestone influence. Small-production, terroir-driven farming (practicing biodynamic/sustainable methods).