Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Big notes of caramel and vanilla on the nose. Blackberry, black currant and black cherry fruit flavors with notes of sweet spices and earth. Dark purple color. Full bodied and loaded with fruit. Plush and round with a touch of sweetness on the long finish. — 4 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Rich & dense showing black berry, graphite, crushed rock, mocha & forest floor. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Nicely soft & round on palate. Dark currants/cassis, blackberries, black raspberries, plum skin, dark tarriness, expresso roast, rock powdery, coco powder, layered baking spices, dark spice with very dark florals. — 6 years ago

CA Haynam

9.0

Another excellent Tobin James everyday wine. Aromas of fruit and berries, inky black, well balanced. Very nice — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

The nose shows nice blue floral fruits. Ripe; blackberries, dark sweet & slightly sour cherries, creamy black raspberries, strawberries and soft plum. Limestone, volcanic minerals, light vanilla, fruit tea, soft, understated fresh tobacco, caramel, milk chocolate and fresh bright red and blue flowers.

The body is medium full. Tannins soft and tarry. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, creamy black raspberries, strawberries and soft plum. Limestone, volcanic minerals, crushed dry rock powder, soft dark spice, light vanilla, fruit tea, soft, understated fresh tobacco, used leather, wood shavings, caramel, milk chocolate and fresh bright red and blue flowers. The acidity is beautiful. The finish has to flush out but, it’s long, balanced and delicious. This will be a great Insignia. I’ll wait 15 years plus before I open my first bottle.

Photos of; their Estate vines of their terrace, terrace tasting area, more Insignia artwork from the visitor center and their signage as you walk to their Napa facility.
— 7 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. — 7 years ago

Michael Amoruso

8.9

Lovely soft blue and black fruits. Nice finish — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Drank a bottle of this only a week ago so notes are consistent. Rich crimson in colour showing its youth. Masses of black pepper and spice from this cooler year. Medium weight palate with great texture and length. Rob Diletti the winemaker is a big believer in wines being totally expressive of the site they are grown in he told me - “All about the soil”. Terrific QPR. Bought a total of about 4 1/2 dozen from 5 different wineries over here in the Great South and said to send at the end of March. Ridiculously hot in Australia at the moment to be shipping wine. At Little Italy Restaurant in Albany. — 6 years ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.0

V15. Very good and well balanced. Smoked meat and cedar nose. Juicy black berry fruit. Soft, velvet black pepper finish. Nice wine. — 6 years ago

James Forsyth

9.3

Black cherries, cloves, leather and tar. It's a ripe, overt Napa Cab that has an attractive balance and surprisingly silly tannins. Approachable now but would be happy to cellar this for a while longer.

Enjoyed at Simon and The Whale in NYC paired with the Simon Burger, which was beautifully prepared, if rather fussy with endless aiolis and such like. — 7 years ago

with Peter

Chris England

9.3

Wow, are you kidding me? £32 for this amazing aged Pomerol from a top Chateau - worth every penny/cent 👍 In a perfect peak spot right now 😉

📍 Chateau Clos L'Eglise 2007

🏵 93 points

🍇 70% Merlot & 30% Cabernet Franc

🍷 Deep blackened opaque ruby

👃 Smokey charred oak bathed in liquorice, dirty dirty soggy earth, tobacco, minerals & wet leaves with dark berries, rich gooey damson, dark cherry & black tea - yummy nasal nookie 😍

👄 Med+ body smooth chewy dark rich plum in stewed black berries, liquorice & creamy thick mocha w/ a mineral rock undertone

🎯 Long earthy creamy silk mocha dark plum & berry liquorice kiss w/ a touch of dry minerality — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A little Rosé magic from Sleight of Hand on Christmas Eve. The Magicians Assistant Rosé is one of better Rosés I had recently. On the nose; pink rose petals, beautiful fragrant soft minerals, powdery chalkiness and lean fruits of; watermelon near the rhine, cherries, strawberries & pink grapefruit w/ a touch of sugar. The mouthfeel is medium, rich and a touch gluey. The palate fruits match the nose. Minerals that grip softly, just the right amount of powdery chalkiness, pink roses, watermelon Jolly rancher, perfect round acidity and an elegant, balanced finish. Merry Christmas everyone ! May it be joyous! 🎁🎄❄️⛄️🥗 — 8 years ago

Cecil Ramirez

9.2

2009 vintage. Opaque ruby garnet color, full bodied. Black cherry, blackberry, currants, tea, forest floor, oak notes. Silky mouthfeel, balanced tannin. — 8 years ago

Jamie Lauder

9.2

2014 vintage. This is great wine from Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.
The nose is full blown blueberries with cloves, smokiness and black pepper. More a combination of Washington State and Northern Rhone.
Tasting, bright blue/black fruit with hints of mint, sagebrush and bacon......mmmmmm.....who doesn’t like bacon??
This wine finishes so smooth with acids and tannins in beautiful harmony and balance.
— 5 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Jamet love! Showing black cherry, raspberry, bacon fat, olive, licorice, crushed rock, graphite , sweet spice & violet. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

The best Cabernet Franc on the table. Although it really did not have much competition. This was the ONLY Cabernet Franc on the table! This one had lots of black cherry, graphite, cocoa, cola, and pie space to the front and middle. The finish still showed moderate astringency with a fair amount of oak, yet this was probably just about as approachable as I have ever seen a bottle of this Cabernet Franc. I would say this one is probably one to two years away from a pop and pour! — 6 years ago

with Dan and Bradley

Chris England

9.5

A wine I’ve been eager to try & found cheaper in 🇪🇸 vs 🇬🇧 @ €140 - Very Côte Rotie esq & a rather superbly made 🇺🇸 wine 😉 oh & Mrs E enjoyed in the hotel hot tub 😁 as you’ll see if you scroll on Instagram ⏩

📍 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard 2013

🏵 95 points w/ more on age potential

💥 13.8% ABV

🍇 Syrah co-fermented with 5% Viognier

🍷 Opaque blackened ruby

👃 Loaded with smoked dry cured Iberian ham, cherry cola, dirty muddy piggy 🥓 & rock minerals w/ peppered raspberry liquorice, cocoa, olive tapenade, oak & black berries - just fabulous 😍

👄 Med+ body of chocolate infused blackberry & dark spiced cherry w/ wild sharp raspberry & herbs in med acidity

🎯 Long blackberry/raspberry/cherry mocha boom boom w/ a touch of dryness
— 7 years ago

Gerardo Suro

9.2

Drinking very well right now and could certainly last another 10 years. Smooth and polished Bordeaux blend showing lovely red and black fruits along with anise, black olives and dusty earth. — 7 years ago

Maxwell Burns

Hospitality Kenwood Vineyards, Winemaker GARA

9.5

Outstanding. 2006, still has youth and firm tannins. Very herbal, dried black fruits, black pepper, long long finish. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.3

Superb €38 now £65 personal fav from St Em in top year 👍 w/ fab QPR & a soft spot for me as I had this same vintage from the barrel 😍 93 going 95-96

🍇 71% Merlot & 29% Cab F

🍷Opaque ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Chocolate coated black cherry, berry & plum through smokey oak, liquorice & wet crushed mineral rock w/ violets

👄 Med+ creamy silky mocha dark berry plum bang w/ liquorice & minerals

🎯 Long mocha berry plum slight dry mineral linger purple teether — 8 years ago