A Tribute To Grace Wines
Hendricks Wines
Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2014
Hendricks Wines
Gold Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
On the nose, ripe, ruby, fruits of; mulberry, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, black cherries, blueberries & creamy raspberries. Vanilla, hints of sweet tarriness, black licorice, whiff of spice, soft understated limestone minerals & crushed rock powder, fruity black tea, hint of fresh herbaceousness, rich, black turned earth, fresh dark floral bouquet and fields of lavender & violets.
The body is rich, ripe & full. The tannins are a little sticky but well softened, round and a touch chewy. The structure, tension, length, balance, tension and balance are very close to perfect and harmonious. Fruits are; mulberry, huckleberry, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, black cherries & creamy raspberries. Vanilla, hints of sweet tarriness, black licorice, whiff of spice, soft understated limestone minerals & crushed rock powder, fruity black tea, hint of fresh herbaceousness, rich, black turned earth, fresh dark floral bouquet and fields of lavender & violets. The acidity is round and rains like a waterfall perfectly over the palate. The very long, ruby, rich, well balance lasts minutes and is absolutely heavenly. Gorgeous, elegant, stunning wine.
Photos of; the vertical tasting we attended of all Hendricks Cabernets; 04, 05, 09 & 12 at the time w/ one of our favorite paintings in the background, Charles Hendricks working in the cellar, very old rootstock from the Stag’s Leap Vineyard where the fruit to make this wine normally comes from and a wide shot of the Stag’s Leap Vineyard.
Producer notes and history...Hendricks Cabernet Sauvignon is consistently sourced from a few of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards. In those near perfect vintages, Charles only makes a small production wine of around 250-300 cases. Charles only produces it when he has exception fruit. He’s made Hendricks Cabernet in; 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012 & 2014. Notice he didn’t make Hendricks Cabernet in a great vintage year like 2013. He wasn’t happy enough with his fruit in 2013 to put his name on it. That says a lot and maybe all you need to know about his standard for quality. I do know what wine his 13 fruit made as I’ve had and it’s an unbelievable wine for far less money.
Charles also makes a fantastic Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands that is really quite amazing. Especially, if you give it 5 or 6 years in bottle. All his wines are sold exclusively through the Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville as he is also the Hope & Grace Winemaker.
Charles graduated in 1982 from UC Davis in viticulture. He was also able to tailor his own curriculum and was one of the earliest to integrate winemaking and viticulture course work. Having knowledge of both viticulture and enology forms the basis for his well-rounded winemaking.
Over the years Charles has worked in both Napa and Sonoma Counties, gaining hands on experience in all aspects of winemaking. He has a strong reputation for excellence. In his career, he’s been a consulting winemaker for many wineries; Viader, Barnett Vineyards, Paoletti Vineyards, Regusci Winery, James Cole, T-Vine and Tamayo family Vineyard.
I asked Charles, “how does he make wines that are amazingly good in their youth but will age effortlessly for 15-20 years?” His answer was simply this, “its not that hard, you just have to know the perfect time to harvest fruit.” I would agree with that to a degree. But, you also have to know how to gently guide fruit onto it’s path into the barrel and not get in the wine’s way or overwork the process. — 7 years ago
Salon
'S' Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut Chardonnay 2002
Undeniably divine start to finish. This is a wow wine. Power and grace. Rich yet delicate. The stuff that dreams are made of — 8 years ago
Liquid Farm
Golden Slope Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 2013
Loving this tribute to white burgundy! The perfect balance of richness and fruit, this is a beautifully elegant chardonnay and an industry favorite! — 9 years ago
Etude
Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir Rosé 2013
As far as rosé goes, this is a good un. Almost no perfume to discuss, although we did detect metals and very soft strawberries. It's soft and round on the palette, which is our style of rosé. Finishes with red fruits and mild acidity. Should have drunk this last year. Oh well... — 9 years ago
Il Molino di Grace
Il Margone Riserva Chianti Classico Sangiovese 2011
After allowing this wine to breathe for a while, you will be amazed. Smooth, and especially flavourful for an Italian wine. — 10 years ago
Grace Family Vineyards
Blank Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Very Californian Cabernet but so enjoyable. Seductive perfume, lots of red fruit, casis, sweet, great harmony of acidity to counter the fruit and very soft tannins. Great juice for a "second label — 10 years ago
Savage Grace
Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
I really like this producer. This bottling definitely needs a bit more time. The components are there, but aren’t completely in harmony at this stage. The acidity is crisp & the oak treatment adds some textural complexity. I look forward to seeing where this goes over time. — 5 years ago
Domaine Serene
Grace Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010
This was showing a lot of maple, almost syrupy, characteristics. Baked fig, clove, black cherry pie, and sandalwood dominate the nose. Very explosive aromatics. Toward the finish there was more herbal/earthy underbrush notes...even leaning towards dates and old plum. If you enjoy these with a lot of fruit, I’d pop now, but it’s certainly going to hold in this window for a while. — 6 years ago
Benziger Family Winery
Tribute Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007
Pretty heavy for a Sonoma wine. Loaded with dark berries and spices. Addition of Temporanillo and Petit Verdot add to the complexity of the wine — 7 years ago
Henschke
Keyneton Mount Edelstone Vineyard Shiraz 2006
Aromas of raspberry and hints of Thyme and Mint. Oak has fully blended into the fruit at 12 years and is totally balanced. The hallmark of this wine has always been its soft silky tannins; like its more famous elder sibling Hill of Grace for many more $. Medium bodied and in a great place right now in its development. Superb wine in a good vintage from a Vineyard planted in 1912 - dry grown ungrafted vines. Winery says can cellar to 2025. 9 weeks later picked the next one a little soon but I did. Notes as above. Cannot say more - just an excellent wine. Perfect with roast lamb. — 7 years ago
Etude
Estate Grown Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir 2014
Enjoyed this so much a few months ago, I just had to try another bottle. Aged for 12 months, very pleasant light berry fruit aromas with slight undertones of earthiness. On the palate cherry and currants with subtle spice. I would consider this one of the lighter bodied Pinot’s I have tasted. Soft tannins lingering ending with a mineral tang. Nice, from their 1500 acre Grace Benoit Ranch in Carneros. As good as previous bottle. — 7 years ago
Doubleback
Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
As a tribute to hawks I declare this WA wine night @Jim Trobaugh join me - good and starting my Saturday night smile exercises — 8 years ago
James Cole
Napa Valley Malbec 2010
I am not the biggest fan of most Malbec's. The Mendoza's just aren't all that interesting. There generally quite simple and lack beauty & elegance! However, Chuck Hendrick's Malbec's impress. He makes the Hope & Grace and did until recently make the James Cole. You will be hard press to find another as elegant, smooth and fruit so ripe. One could sip this all night. Ripe black cherries, raspberries, cherries, touch of blue fruit, liquid violets, melted milk chocolate, the dark minerality is round & sweet, there's a faint presence of used wood shavings, touch of lite pepper on the tip of your tongue and a round mix of rich ripe fruit blend on the finish. Acidity is spot on! This will only continue to improve over the next 4-5 years +. — 9 years ago
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)
Marey-Monge Romanée-St. Vivant Pinot Noir 2001
A very lucid and delicious nose. Typically DRC. On the palate fresh, complex and settled. Great to drink now- the mix of lightness yet power, grace yet depth you hope for in wines of this level. Still very savory and alive. — 9 years ago
Hope & Grace
Doctor's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009
Celebrating the launch of a project I've been working on for 8 months - great way to do it! This is as amazing as I've always remembered, if not more so. #pinotlove — 10 years ago
A Tribute to Grace Wines
Vogelzang Vineyard Grenache 2009
Light bodied, delicate though still fully present Grenache. Refuses extraction and knows who she is in comfortable fashion at the same time. Wonderful red earth plus red fruit ease. — 13 years ago
Hope & Grace
Napa Valley Malbec 2007
Never thought I’d see the day I’d give a Napa malbec a score this high. Though age is a factor, this is the best Napa valley Malbec I’ve had. Everything in balance. I poured blind for a few people and Aussie Shiraz, Cabernet, and Napa Petit sirah were the guesses. On the nose, it shows ripe blackberries, currant, licorice (but not an overload like many Malbecs), dark chocolate shavings, mocha and some cedar. What separates this from other Malbecs is the complexity on the palate...not just a licorice and inky profile. Candied black cherries, ripe blackberries, baking spices, melted chocolate, and a hint of black pepper spice. Nothing flabby, dense or overly tannic about this. Smooth and in the zone. My thanks to @David T who opened my eyes to this wine (and producer)! And props to Mark who called H&G as a possible producer when he tasted this blind! — 5 years ago
Robert Keenan Winery
Tribute Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Tribute refers to the first Keenan Cab made 30 years prior. A very low production best barrel cuvée, informally known at the winery as Secret Wines since they don’t appear on any menus or price lists. This is Cali Cab pure and simple (ok, a smidge of Cab Franc too). Smoke, anise, currants, aromatic wood, huge tannins (still). Fantastic power and structure. Just approaching it’s best years. — 7 years ago
Il Molino di Grace
Chianti Classico Sangiovese 2013
Browne Family Vineyards
Tribute Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2013
This $24.99 wine has multiple Pro ratings of 95. Great wine doesn't have to be expensive. This is a balanced Columbia Valley wine with a very "French", old style taste. — 8 years ago
Hope & Grace
Paso Robles Lagrein 2012
Juicy. There's a sense of blackberry/black cherry gum. Black cherry cola, black licorice anise, olallieberry pie, dark moist earth, chocolate cake with fruit & fudge frosting, dark fine minerality, shades of a port like character, liquid violets, crushed rocks, dry pebbles and very large round juicy to dry dark fruit finish. Reminds me of a very dark berry Gamay. — 9 years ago
Brooks Winery
Red Letter Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2008
Beautiful. And what a perfect tribute to a life. — 9 years ago
Memaloose
Idiot's Grace Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2012
Ah-mazing! A definite go to. — 10 years ago
Diora
La Petite Grace Monterey Pinot Noir 2013
2013- Wow! Full of huge fruit then comes to a nice finish with the oak, mushroom, alcohol. EXTREMELY well balanced.... Fantastic pinot. — 10 years ago
Zorah
Karasi Areni Noir 2010
A well done wine with maybe a bit of little grip wild finish, a nice discovery, a pure and fresh wine - Karasì, is a tribute to the 6100 year wine tradition of Armenia and to its Areni Noir grape, which has created the authentic spirit of this wine. Its name is a reference to its long aging in traditional large, clay, amphorae (karasì being the Armenian translation “from amphora”). — 11 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
Charles strikes again.
I said weeks ago, I’d rather drink Charles Hendricks Pinot in futures @ $75 vs. the 09 Marcassin we had two weeks back @ $150+ winery or $225+ on the secondary market. This 14, while still young, proves that point and will only continue to get better.
It’s about as luxurious as Ca Pinot gets. Just supple, soft & elegant as body gets. Candied, floral fruits of ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, lean purple fruits, dry cranberries, strawberries, plums, delicate but darks spices, cinnamon stick, vanillin, nutmeg & touch clove, salted caramel, mocha powder, limestone & grey volcanics, dry crushed rocks hints of peppered grilled meats, fresh & dry tobacco, dry stems/twigs, sage dominated dry Provence herbs, splash of mint/eucalyptus, tree sap with bright candied, fresh & slightly withering florals of; dark, red, purple, blue set in a field of violets & some lavender. The acidity is perfect. The long finish is; extremely well balanced & polished, elegant, fresh, just the right amount of candied with a long, dark spice finish in the long set.
The 14 really started to excel after an hour plus in the decanter.
Photos of; the outside of the Hope & Grace tasting room in downtown Yountville where you will find Charles Hendricks wines. He makes Hope & Grace wines as well. One of my favorite paintings that used to sit behind their tasting bar but, is now in Charles house. It is very Pollock like! Winemaker/Co-owner Charles Hendricks and a vineyard in region of the Santa Lucia Highlands. — 5 years ago