Rhys Vineyards 2022

The 2022 vintage from Rhys is a powerful reminder of why we love the Rhys wines quite so much. Produced exclusively from estate vineyards, each developed with massive amounts of thought and consideration, these Rhys bottlings are odes to California’s history of farming mountain sites for singular wines.

Across Alpine, Horseshoe, and Mt. Pajaro, both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay speak with striking clarity—their vineyard signatures etched into very glass. From Mt. Pajaro’s lacy structure and steely core to Alpine’s endless, rising finish, to Horseshoe’s deep, umami-driven complexity, the transparency of site that Jeff Brinkman has delivered in 2022 is truly remarkable.

After the structured intensity of 2021, these 2022s are more open-knit and immediately expressive. The reds are less tannic but no less characterful; the whites are poised, with crystalline precision and just a touch less extract. They call to mind the finesse and charm of the 2016s, with an added sense of effortless grace.

A warm September could have derailed the vintage. It didn’t. Years of dry farming have strengthened these vineyards, in 2022, they delivered. As Vinous’s Billy Norris put it, “Rhys’ full range of Pinots clearly missed the memo on the challenging season, venturing into the territory of exceptional”, while “Rhys’ entire stable of chardonnays” were lauded as “notable exceptions”. These wines are compelling, finely tailored, and built for pleasure—offering earlier accessibility than the 2021s, but no shortage of aging potential.

If you're looking for a vintage that encapsulates the Rhys philosophy—great sites, minimal intervention, and a relentless pursuit of purity—2022 delivers in spades.