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! — 5 years ago

with Dan and Bradley

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 — 6 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. — 6 years ago

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! 🎁🎄❄️⛄️🥗 — 6 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. — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Classic older Graves showing soft, sweet core of red & black fruits, cedar, leather, tobacco & crushed rock. Fully mature but still holding, an interesting & enjoyable wine to drink. — 7 years ago

Kevin Ortzman

9.1

Blueberry, black cherry and licorice — 8 years ago

with Rick

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.3

Creosote and tar with yesterday's wood fire aromas balanced by greatly refined notes of pure dark cherries and black currant fruit, with the charred oak present but integrated. Full and rich yet lively and acidic, showing a stoney profile where fruit, tannins and acidity are polished but still obvious. Toasty oak adds complexity and the spice notes reminds me Guigal's La La bottlings. Impressive and age worthy too. — 8 years ago

Rollie Wright

Sales Wine Spectrum

9.3

Great name, great label, pretty good wine. — 9 years ago

James Barlow

9.5

Full bodied, black currant, raspberry, mocha, coffee grinds. Med + tannins am med acid. — 9 years ago

Josh Luhn

Luhn Wine Consulting Owner, Luhn Family Wines

9.3

If you want new world power and old world balance, this hits the mark. Dark cassis, black olive, dried herbs and flowers, great acidity and length. — 9 years ago

JM Latour

8.9

Had this wine May 17 - 20, 2019. Cloudy garnet red. Medium bodied. Extra dry. Cherry, strawberry, wild pansies and a hint of black pepper. It has a distinct element to it that I have noticed with other Ontario reds that I have not quite been able to put my finger on yet. It was also a little acidic on the finish. I did not, however, notice the earthiness that all the reviews that I have read mentioned. I can understand why this wine received great reviews and was noted as a bench mark for Pinot Noir in Ontario. $34.95 LCBO — 5 years ago

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
— 6 years ago

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. — 6 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

This is actually the 2013 Prime Solum Broken Rock Vineyard Merlot.

Super small production out of the Broken Rock Vineyard in Atlas Peak, only 38 cases produced. Deep garnet red. Tied up nose with just notes of stewed black berries and cherries with cinnamon undertones. A bit earthy on the palate with dark crushed gravel layered with black cherries, dark cocoa and a touch savory. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and medium bodied. Tons of acidity and structure. Long finish. Drink till 2024. — 7 years ago

with Steve and India

Rebecca Fletcher

9.6

Red cherry, savory, baking spice, ripe black plum. Wet rock and balsamic. M acid, body. M/m+ tannin. Still young but balanced and elegant. Long finish. Very unique in a good way. Beautiful wine. — 8 years ago

Mark Maruszak

9.3

Crazy awesome. Tons of black pepper, smoke, tobacco and bacon fat. Luscious dark fruits. Very fruit forward palate. Waaaaaay too young. — 9 years ago

Oscar Bonilla

9.3

Deep flavors of black cherry along with some blueberry notes and also a creamy texture. Delicious wine!!!!! 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 2% Cab Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. — 9 years ago

Amy Morgan

9.5

Trying to taste this wine objectively was no small feet! Medium intensity on the nose of elegance focusing on blackberries, currants, coffee, crushed rock and leather. The palate was rich and concentrated with a medium + flavor intensity of black plums, blueberries, ripe blackberries, spice, black pepper, sweet tobacco and wet stone. A lot of structure with balanced acidity and mouth coating tannins. #MWtasting — 9 years ago

with Shalini

CA Haynam

9.0

Another excellent Tobin James everyday wine. Aromas of fruit and berries, inky black, well balanced. Very nice — 5 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. — 6 years ago

with Peter

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. — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.4

Last time I had dark cherry was there but blackberry is showing now @ £133 a 96-98 in the making, but 93-95 now

🍇 85% Cab S & 15% Cab F

🍷 Opaque ruby

👃 Elegant savoury herb infused cedar wood, smokey fresh pine & new oak through earthy blackberry, crushed mineral rock, pencil lead, cocoa, bluebells, black tea & new leather

👄 Med silky body of spiced blackberry, liquorice, mocha, light balsamic w/ very fine smooth tannins & cherry hints

🎯 Med+ refined earthy blackberry, mocha & liquorice w/ a black tea tone — 6 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 — 6 years ago

Jeremy Jones

9.0

Spicy, smokey peppery nose. Full bodied with spice and black raspberry flavors and dry finish. — 7 years ago

Eric

9.8

Amazing nose. Roasted black cherries and monster minerals. Surprising amount of tannin for a 16 year old wine. — 8 years ago

Robert Brewer

9.0

Best cab at the potluck barbecue. Spice and black cherry. Dark color but light on the palate with long smooth finish. — 8 years ago

Heath Higgins

9.1

Wet rock, white pepper, nice fruit. Just a little bit of heat. Great value. — 8 years ago

Tony Capone

10

One of best I have had in a long time... Blackberry, black current, so smooth on the finish.... Only four of these left — 9 years ago

Mike Lee

Beverage Manager/Sommelier Catch Miami

9.3

"Declassified" Clos Erasmus (not made in 2011). Blue/black fruit, crushed rock, purple flowers, dried herbs & spice. The oak is strong in this one, but acid and fruit balance it out. Beautiful but needs food. And a cellar. — 9 years ago