Vinography Unboxed: Highlights and Discoveries from the Week of June 1, 2025

Hello and welcome to this week’s exploration of wine samples that have recently arrived for tasting. Here’s what I discovered in this installment of Vinography Unboxed.

This week featured exciting new releases from Rhys Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Their 2022 Mt. Pajaro Vineyard Chardonnay continues to impress, showcasing that the region produces some of the finest examples of this grape variety.

Previously, Rhys had a bi-continental project named Aeris, producing wines from both Mt. Etna in Sicily and Centennial Mountain Vineyard in California. However, the Sicilian operation has been discontinued, and the Sonoma venture has now been rebranded as Centennial Mountain Vineyard. This rebranding brought forth a couple of intriguing wines that seem to reflect an elevated winemaking standard.

The first of these is a reserve blend from the 2021 vintage, primarily featuring Nerello Mascalese, Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Primitivo grapes. Notably supple and juicy, it is aging beautifully in the bottle. The second offering is a multi-vintage solera starting with the 2016 vintage, showcasing a bright character and delightful flavors.

For many wine enthusiasts in California, the Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! project is already a familiar name. Founded by Hardy Wallace, known from Dirty & Rowdy, this winery emphasizes fun, energy, and natural winemaking without sacrificing quality. This week, I sampled his latest rosé, a unique white blend, and two unreleased red wines. The Merlot from the Santa Cruz Mountains shows great potential for aging, while the “Indie Bookstore Medium Red II,” a playful blend of Zinfandel and Zinfandel rosé, offers a light yet satisfying option.

Here are the tasting notes for the featured wines:

Tasting Notes

2022 Rhys Vineyards “Mt. Pajaro Vineyard” Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California

• A pale gold color with aromas of lemon zest and pink grapefruit pith.
• On tasting, it reveals saline flavors of lemon and grapefruit pith, complemented by white flowers. Known for its great acidity, the wine is refreshing and mouthwatering.
• Score: 9.5, Cost: $89. Click to buy

2024 Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! “Full King Crab IV – Brousseau Vineyard” White Blend, California

• It has a light yellow-gold hue, offering scents of bee pollen, lemon zest, and chamomile.
• Bright, juicy flavors of chamomile, vanilla, and grapefruit make for an exciting palate.
• Score: 8.5 – 9, Cost: $50.

2024 Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! “Summer Salters Rosé IV” Red Blend, California

• This pale ruby wine shows aromas of watermelon and strawberries, with similar refreshing flavors.
• It’s grounded with excellent acidity, making it more serious than typical rosés.
• Score: 9, Cost: $44. Click to buy

2023 Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! “Indie Bookstore Medium Red II” Zinfandel, California

• Medium garnet with a complex nose of dusty earth and red berries.
• Its taste features juicy characteristics and a delightful acidity.
• Score: 8.5 – 9, Cost: $42.

2023 Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! “Mariana’s Vineyard” Cabernet Franc, California

• This medium garnet wine smells of green herbs and plum, with vibrant flavors that make it mouthwatering.
• Score: 9 – 9.5, Cost: $125 (releasing November 11, 2025).

2023 Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah! “Mariana’s Vineyard” Merlot, California

• Offering aromas of black plum and baking spice, it features juicy flavors wrapped in fine tannins.
• Score: 9, Cost: $125 (releasing November 11, 2025).

2021 Centennial Mountain “Reserve” Red Blend, California

• This dark garnet wine has enticing aromas of cherries and licorice.
• Bright acidity and a stony quality contribute to its appeal.
• Score: 9, Cost: $59.

MV Centennial Mountain “Solera I” Red Blend, California

• Dark ruby in color with a fruity and herbal aroma profile.
• The tasting experience includes earthy flavors with nice acidity.
• Score: 9, Cost: $79.

Explore these wines through their respective producers for more details and availability.

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!