Rhys Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Alesia, Anderson Valley, California 2017

100% Pinot Noir made with all estate, 100% destemmed fruit from the Bearwallow Vineyard. The Rhys Anderson Valley Alesia is aged in French oak (11% new) for 18 months.

The Rhys Vineyards Alexander Valley Alesia is a medium-bodied, satiny red with aromas and flavor notes of cherry, cranberry, fresh herbs, dried flowers, and forest floor. Ready to drink now, this succulent red will brighten your day and your dinner table.

Rhys's estate grown appellation wines are bottled with the “Alesia” designation. These wines showcase a line of estate grown, mountain vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines that offer incredible value. The wine bottled under Alesia is selected to be delicious and earlier drinking but still offer complex character and balance.

Rhys Vineyards aspires to make great Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah from some of California’s most unique and expressive vineyards. This pursuit has led them to search the state for exciting rocky soils that exist within the mountainous, cool, coastal climate zone. Over the last 15 years, Rhys has developed seven estate vineyards, six in the Santa Cruz Mountains and one in Anderson Valley, each of which is capable of producing uniquely compelling, distinctive, soil driven wine.

Located over 100 miles north of San Francisco, the wine producing reputation of the beautiful, remote Alexander Valley has been steadily climbing for decades. The 16 mile long, transverse valley extends from the southeast to the northwest and becomes increasingly cool as it nears the Pacific Ocean. The geology in the valley is quite diverse but includes a band of rocky southwest facing hillsides that produce intense, mineral driven wines of great elegance. Rhys selected the site for their Bearwallow vineyard in the coolest northwest corner or “Deep End” of the valley, where they have planted 31 acres on the rocky slopes.

The winemakers at Rhys Vineyards believe that real wine quality is produced in the vineyard, not the winery. Driven by that belief, each of their vineyards is managed with a “spare no expense” viticultural approach that is based on organic and biodynamic farming methods. The goal is to naturally balance the vines while cultivating a vibrant and biologically diverse ecosystem in and around each vineyard. This philosophy of minimal intervention is mirrored in their winemaking.