Walt M Britt

9.3

This bottle was a gift from my old friend J. Michael McGarity and is his go cabernet, and his taste is right on point. Grilled 2.5-inch bone-in ribeye, Brussel sprouts, shiitake mushrooms, and baked potato, and this wine was a first-rate accompanist to a fine meal. Wine never gets too strong but is bold as you want a Napa Cabernet to be. Going to visit Mike or add a case to my cellar. — 8 years ago

Josh Wilson

9.8

Present for babysitting Luca — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.0

This one I felt was missing something. I expect something with this label to dominate and compared to what else was there tonight, it was just rather timid. Still had some rather nice black fruits on the nose and on the palate, but thankfully this one wasn't mine. A little flat in the middle. Nice blackberry nose and palate. The finish is a little on the stiff side. I just think this one needs another 2-3 years in the bottle for it to wake back up again. I think it was in a funky place. Very enjoyable and I would definitely not snub this one if it was the only one on the table (quite the opposite, actually). This one tasted with a 2012 Pott Franc, a 2014 Bevan Ontogeny, a 1997 Lokoya Diamond Mtn, and a Barnett 2010 Rattlesnake Hill Cab. Nice wine.....I just think it would be better on another day. — 8 years ago

with Shay and Keith

Lindsey Bogard

9.4

Good wine, more pricey than I normally drink! Smooth, medium-full bodied. — 9 years ago

Shay A

9.6

Attending the Côtes du Coeur in Dallas. Was asked to be a brand ambassador for Montagu Wines, so I get to pour this weekend! Last night was the grand tasting...out of 18 or so wineries, two really stood out.

This is the second wine that really stood out, along with the Barnett Rattlesnake. Lots of similarities. Both had that Velvet and creamy texture on the palate. Lots of darker fruits on this. Pedigree really shined so you knew at first whiff this was going to be phenomenal. Kirk Venge is the winemaker. As a '14, could tell it was super young but already incredibly powerful. @Jason Oliver , I believe you are a fan of this stuff? I got to meet @Hailey Covey with Macauley and both my wife and I agreed that this was top notch! Thanks Hailey! — 9 years ago

Matt Trader

9.4

1 acre, single vineyard off Howell Mountain.. OH, and it is owned and made by David Tate. No big deal. If you like Barnett off Spring Mt, this will give even that a run for its money!

Extremely floral, espresso bean, anise, and mulled rred berries. The pallet exhibits notes of baked red and black plums, cocoa powder, nutmeg, blackberries, lavender, and racey, gripping tannins. You give David Mt Fruit, and he sculpts masterpieces. Thanks for yet another great Cabernet Sauvignon! Brings me back to my visit on Spring Mt at Barnett!

Cheers!

$85-ish — 9 years ago

David Kline

9.2

Says in the bible: dark cometh and the yeast shall reign! Who knew it be in time for Oktoberfest? Honey bread!! Indian gum, spearmint, admittedly pretzel, but this one is crisp, and the raw yeast keeps it unique. Streaky lacing that would make Barnett Newman proud! Yeast coated granite, leads to dried potato skin, white pine, balsa, and a cedar-dry finish that borders on polystyrene, albeit with a breadfruit herbaceous characteristic, great fest beer! — 10 years ago

Straton Howard

8.9

A little past its prime but still very good!
— 10 years ago

Beth

9.5

Dinner at abys Mexican with Barnett and verbitsky. Sweet red. Great table wine — 11 years ago

Faye Schilling

9.5

Remarkable!! — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

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. — 8 years ago

Kimberly Anderson

9.2

What a fantastic wine! Heavy blueberry and blue fruit nose. Medium tannins and lush finish. Perfect with grilled veal chops — 8 years ago

with Chad, Julie and 1 other

Bill Bender

9.3

Another kick ass performance from a Spring Mountain merlot. Bold, dense and chewy, expresso and black cherry with significant warmth and length. If you think you don't like merlot ascend the circular back roads of Spring Mountain (or go online if you're lazy) and get a Switchback, Pride Mountain vintner select, Paloma, Keenan or Barnett and you can thank me later. These plump full bodied babes will change your mind about the varietal. — 9 years ago

Candace Lockett

9.0

At Red Prime — 9 years ago

Ryan Carey

Founder Wine Confidential

9.2

We offer this wine at $48, which is an insanely cheap price for a Spring Mountain cab that Galloni gave 94 points. Dry farmed from 40 year old wines all the way up Spring Mountain next to Pride and Barnett. Family owned, small producer — 10 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.1

Toffee, cognac, cappuccino, orange, good balance. Still alive! — 10 years ago

Tony Capone

9.7

One of the best! — 11 years ago

Monica Layfield

9.5

All. Spring. Long. The perfect rosé. — 11 years ago

with Casey

Mary Lee

9.2

Different type of Pino. Strong smoky initial taste but on second taste licorice came out. Not so much fruity but if you want something different try this — 13 years ago

Ben Madonna

9.2

Started with it at lunch. Tasted much better later that night at dinner. Savoy is always great Pinot. — 8 years ago

Rod Welsh

9.5

Amazingly delicious — 8 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.3

This is tasting better than a year ago. Liking the ghost block yountville a little better right now. Those tannins still need to calm down a bit and the fruit needs to show a little more. The Barnett is the least structured and very approachable. Girlfriend and I both preferred the ghost block #1 but she had the Barnett over Shafer. 92-93 — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Showing the tiniest bit of oxidation at first, with a rather strange funk. This one has a classic volcanic soil nose and when it was bottle decanted it still had a 70's shag carpet funk to it. This quickly blew off. The terroir note of the red volcanic soil is still present throughout the entire presentation of this wine. This one shows blackberry that has started to show the tiniest bit of age. From front to back, this one was blackberry and volcanic soil with some lavender and hawthorne. Finished still with some tannin, so I know this one has at least another 5-10 years to go. Tasted very similar to a Barnett Rattlesnake Hill which, to me, was WOTN. — 8 years ago

with Shay and Keith

JKT

9.1

CVed 10/28/16. Darker inky color than Clos du Val. Nose had peppery and herbaceous notes with very mature black fruits. Body very firm and still tannic and powerful. Finish is long and gradually dried out but balanced and quite impressive. A power wine strutting its stuff. Z Auction. again CVed 12/27/16 and similar findings. However nose not herbaceous but more earthy. Comped with Livingston and Barnett. Opened Latham 12/30/16. Still the same. — 9 years ago

Michael Mathews

9.2

How can yo go wrong with this wine? Answer - you can't. Amazing day st Hall, Barnett, Sherwin Family and Fantesca today!!
private tastings at Ladera, Merus and Quixote tomorrow.... — 9 years ago

with Kelly, Rick and 3 others

John Eaton

9.2

Poured into the decanter. Immediately poured to the glass with aeration. Deep dense cab-like color. Nose started out tight but then blossomed. Beautiful flowery nose. Earth. Nice raspberry strawberry fruit. Great acid. Mod + finish. Satisfying after the poor Barnett Donnelly Creek showing. — 10 years ago

John Lepage

9.0

Dark cherries, blueberry, woods pice and vanilla. Super smooth tannins with a taste that lasts and lasts. Derek Barnett makes the best wine in Ontario. — 10 years ago

Manny Canales

9.0

Grassy with lemon. — 11 years ago

with Sarah and Brad

Bill Bender

9.2

Still a behemoth at 7 years. Very nice sense of place. Tell tale spring mountain fruit--like Barnett rattlesnake or Keenan. Similar to Togni but less nuanced. — 11 years ago

Robert Stelmachuk

9.5

Fresh. Bright. And an alcohol where it should be! — 12 years ago