Ryme Cellars "Las Brisas" Pinot Noir 2019
(Carneros, Sonoma County, California) - [VM 92]

About the Winery:
Ryme Cellars is a collaboration of husband and wife with old world sensibilities, as well as admiration for California’s terroir and sunny disposition. Our portfolio of wines has grown gradually and organically since 2007, beginning with a single ton of Aglianico. The varieties may be rare or unusual but none of them are a mere curiosity for us. Rather, they represent wines that we love, drink often, and truly believe in the potential for success in their chosen sites.

Our wines come from conscientiously farmed organic or sustainable vineyards. They are produced according to simple methods. The wines are always encouraged, never controlled. We use no cultured yeast, no temperature control, no enzymes or other adulterants. We do not fine or filter. The wines are raised in used French oak barriques between 2 and 10 years old. Many of the reds are fermented on the stems. Many of the whites are fermented on the skins.

Tasting Notes:
This is lusciously dark fruited and cinnamon spiced with delicate tannins and a long
finish. Despite the richness of fruit, the wine is very supple and has remarkable
freshness with a modest 13.1% alcohol

About the Wine

This Pinot Noir comes from the Las Brisas Vineyard in the Carneros appellation in Sonoma County. Francis Mahoney owns the vineyard and has been growing Pinot Noir in Carneros since the late 1960s. We are excited to be able to produce wine from two old California selections of Pinot Noir from such a storied region and a man with more experience and tenure than just about anyone around. The cold and windy Las Brisas Vineyard at the edge of the Carneros appellation produces a Pinot Noir that is all about elegance and delicacy. The wine is produced from the Swan clone and the Gamay Beaujolais clone of Pinot Noir. The former is spicy and savory. The latter is neither Gamay nor from Beaujolais but is a selection of Pinot that was very popular in California decades ago. It is a very juicy and fruity clone that makes up the textural core of our wine. Together the two clones make a great compliment.

Vinification:
The two clones were picked and vinified separately. The wine was pressed to neutral barrels for 11 months and blended prior to bottling in September

Ratings & Reviews

92 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2019 Pinot Noir Las Brisas Vineyard shows all the aromatic allure and sweet inner perfume of the Swan and Gamay Beaujolais clones. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, cedar and wild flowers gradually open in the glass with a bit of coaxing. This is such a pretty and inviting wine. The Pinot was done entirely with destemmed fruit. 2021 - 2031." - Antonio Galloni (5/2021)