2011 Rhys Bearwallow Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 1x75cl

Antonio Galloni 90

Sweet tobacco, herbs, licorice and dried black cherries lift out of the glass in the 2011 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard. Subtle floral and savory notes are woven throughout. The 2011 shows lovely energy and depth, but also the modest structure typical of Anderson Valley Pinots in this vintage. I expect the Bearwallow 2011 will drink well pretty much upon release and for at least a handful of years to follow. This is a terrific showing in a vintage that was very tough in the Anderson Valley. The 2011 was made with 35% whole clusters. [Antonio Galloni, 10/07/2013]

Anticipated maturity: 2015-2026

Burghound 91

This is less obviously floral than the Alpine but slightly more aromatically complex with its elegant aromas of violets, plums and red currants. There is really lovely intensity to the delicious middle weight flavors that possess a bit more volume before culminating in a structured, serious and clearly built-to-age finish. Good stuff. [Burghound, 25/01/2014]

John Gilman 94

I absolutely love the 2011 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard bottling from Rhys. The wine is nicely ripe at 13.5 percent octane and absolutely perfectly balanced. The bouquet is deep, complex and refined, wafting from the glass in a mix of black cherries, dark berries, coffee bean, a fine base of dark soil tones, sweet whole clusters, gentle Anderson Valley botanicals and a deft framing of new oak. On the palate the wine is focused, full-bodied and very classy, with a superb core of black fruit, lovely soil inflection and grip, tangy acids, fine-grained, suave tannins and a very, very long, complex and seamlessly balanced finish. This is really a superb bottle of pinot noir that is approachable today, but still probably five or six years away from reaching its plateau. I very much underestimated this wine in its youth! [John Gilman, 15/05/2025]

Anticipated maturity: 2030-2080