Alpine Vineyard, Chardonnay, 2019

Name: Alpine Vineyard, Chardonnay
Brand: Rhys Vineyards
Price: 680.5 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2019 2021 2022

justerini & brooks tasting note

Smoke and crushed oyster shells, lemon balm, thyme. On the palate a calm entry that gains in energy and raciness as it crosses the palate. Textured and silky and with a touch more flesh and concentration than the 2018 alongside lovely momentum and concentration. Salty mineral and direct, this enters lithe and then fans out as it gains momentum. A slenderer attack than Horseshoe but plenty of finish – class but quietly delivered. Alpine’s soils are formed primarily of Purisma, a soft chalky shale that is around 8 million years younger than the soils found in Horseshoe, despite being a mere 300 metres away. The resulting wines often have a note of sea spray about them..

critic reviews

96/100Matthew Luczy,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

It is fascinating how the Alpine and Horseshoe Chardonnays often echo the differences between the Pinot Noirs. Like its red brethren, the 2019 Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard begins more coiled and shy on the nose before forming perfectly balanced aromas of yellow orchard fruits, pastry dough, classy hints of oak elevage and a mint-like freshness that I find in both varieties. The palate is succulent, focused, chiseled and edgy without seeming the least bit shrill. The finish is refreshing, zesty and crystal clear, wrapping up a beautiful wine that clocks in at just 12.1% alcohol. This is a prime candidate for a decade in the cellar and should continue to evolve beyond that.

DRINKING WINDOW 2024 - 2039

date of review 04/2024

96/100Antonio Galloni,Vinous

The 2019 Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. It offers an enticing combination of energy and mid-palate sweetness that only grows with time in the glass. Bright saline underpinnings lend striking tension to the citrus fruit throughout. This classically built, sculpted Chardonnay will have plenty to say in another few years’ time. Readers should be in no rush.

DRINKING WINDOW 2024 - 2034

date of review 05/2022