Rhys Pinot Noir Horseshoe Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains 2016

There are not too many uber-geeky pinot noir producers out there (you know, the kind sommeliers go crazy for, the ones that put great Red Burgundy on a pedestal, and are nearly impossible to find), but Rhys is arguably at the top of the heap. Burg-o-phile owner Kevin Harvey started Rhys in his garage in 1995, and now commands a bevy of mostly dry-farmed, highly specific sites for his much-loved and coveted wines.

The HORSESHOE (V97!), from a unique terroir of Monterey shale intermixed with limestone at 1500' to 1610' in the Santa Cruz mountains, is IN THE HOUSE. 13 different clones are planted and farmed with organic and biodynamic principles, VERY high-density plantings and all done by hand -- these are the things that set RHYS apart from the rest. No expense is spared and no corners are cut. With all the work put into the farming, the winemking is "hands-off" with a "less is more" philosophy. The results are nothing short of sensational! This wine is so rare to even see outside the mailing list!! How did we even do this?! Wish we could do more! EXTREMELY limited!