2018 Rhys Chenin Blanc Mt. Pajaro Vineyard
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Opzioni di acquisto
Note di degustazione
Whole-cluster pressed into mostly neutral oak barrels and a few stainless-steel drums where the wine ferments with ambient yeasts and goes through full malolactic conversion. Spends 1 year in barrels with no racking or stirring. Spends 6 additional months in stainless-steel tanks on the lees before bottling with no fining or filtration. 200 cases produced. Aromas of beeswax, candied lemon peel and poached pears. Vibrant acidity makes flavours of Asian pear, poached pear, lemon peel and pink grapefruit juicy and mouth-watering. A faint salinity accompanies the zippy acidity as well as an aromatic sweetness that suffuses the wine. Ageing beautifully. (AY)
Punteggi della critica
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
Altre recensioni e punteggi
The 2018 Chenin Blanc Mt. Pajaro Vineyard is the third release of this bottling and is a welcome opportunity to sample another side of this estate's white wine expertise. Varietally classic saffron, jasmine and stone fruit aromas immediately show themselves on the nose, with green orchard fruits appearing over time. A focused, crunchy, linear palate gives way to a long, exotic finish. Considering the youth of the vines and overall project, this is quite impressive and a welcome addition to the precious few winemakers in California doing exciting things with Chenin Blanc.
Rhys has 1 acre (0.4 ha) of densely planted Chenin Blanc in this vineyard which takes its name from the Pajaro shale formation that sits underneath its shallow soils. The vineyard faces north-west at 1,000 ft (305 m) elevation. Pale yellow-gold. Smells of Meyer lemon curd and Asian pears. The lemony flavours of pear and apple have a silky texture and bright snap thanks to very good acidity. Doesn't scream Chenin to me, but delivers a significant amount of pleasure even without classic varietal signatures. (AY)
I loved the 2017 version of this cuvée, and the 2018 Chenin Blanc Mt. Pajaro Vineyard doesn't disappoint either. Classy dried citrus, leafy herbs, honeysuckle, and a kiss of minerality all show up on the nose, and it's medium-bodied and has a textured, layered mouthfeel, good acidity, and a great finish. It's beautifully done and ideal for enjoying over the coming 2-4 years, although I suspect it will evolve for even longer.