2021 Rhys Pinot Noir Horseshoe Hillside Vineyard

Sourced from a patchwork of blocks on a single ridgeline, the Horseshoe Hillside bottling takes an already fabulous site to another level. Unusually open from the start, the 2021 Pinot Noir Horseshoe Hillside Vineyard is floral and seductive on the nose, with aromas of peony, rose petals, redwood bark and cherry pits. The palate is spectacular and shapeshifting, combining silky precision with a rich, chewy, tannic grip while avoiding an ounce of excess weight. A stunning wine that never ceases to develop across multiple days. As usual, this should be cellared for some time and should impress over the next two decades at least.

The 2021 Pinot Noir Horseshoe Hillside is a dark, potent wine endowed with notable breath and more textural richness than the straight Horseshoe bottling. Black cherry, menthol, sage, lavender and incense bring out the more sepia-toned personality of this site. There's a bit more new oak too, but that won't be an issue once the 2021 is ready to drink. In the past, I have at times noted that the Hillside bottlings aren't that differentiated from the main bottling, but that is certainly not the case in 2021.