2021 Rhys Pinot Noir Horseshoe Hillside Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Amplifying this site, the 2021 Pinot Noir Horseshoe Hillside is expressive out of the gates with notes of incense, cedar, black cherries, and orange rind. Full-bodied, it’s richly structured but again has an incredible levity with a weightless feel, with ripe, rich tannins and notes of Darjeeling on the long finish. An incredible wine, it’s going to benefit from time in the cellar (as will the majority of these wines), but this one in particular will benefit to show off its more refined tertiary qualities. Drink 2026-2040.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
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.