Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Tried this about a year ago, tried again, aged nicely! HALL Wines is located in Napa Valley and employs organic small-vine viticulture and precision winemaking. ‘16 is a blend of 98% Merlot and 2% Cab Sauv. Very deep Ruby with rich berry fruit aromas, complex but not overpowering adding a touch of floral and spice. On the palate rich fruit, raspberry and cherry flavors with sweet vanilla, cacao and some oak. Smooth tannins, great balance, long finish, a joy to drink. — 5 years ago

Kevin Hanes

9.0

light, fruity, noticeable spicy ness. great new world wine made in an old world style — 6 years ago

Luke Burke

9.2

Perfect chenin!!! — 8 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

Elisabetta Tosi

Wine Blogger Vinopigro

9.0

Moscato d'Alessandria grape gives this sweet wine with a basket of apricots and a final touch of dried figs — 10 years ago

Kirk Sutherland

9.4

Delightful. Raspberry, bright acid, rose. — 10 years ago

Juan Cerda

9.0

Juicyness abounds! — 11 years ago

Roman Sosnovskiy

Brand Ambassador Bodegas Ramon Bilbao, Organizer "Wine Games" competition Moscow

9.1

Сухофрукты:чернослив,сушеная груша,яблоко,древесина.очень элегантная и деликатная умеренная сладость,очень хорошая кислотность.во вкусе яблоко, немного орехов, дерево. — 11 years ago

Kelsey Nelson

9.8

Stumbled upon this tasting room and was blown away from their winemaking skills — 11 years ago

with Matt

Justin Lintz

9.1

Nice and light , floral nose, cherry flavors — 5 years ago

Dana Thompson

9.0

Very nice Cali blend. Not too sweet while it doesn’t give the blend it’s obviously Sauv Blanc, Semillon, Viongnet and..any guesses? I like it more the Conundrum especially at dB below $12 price. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This wine is made by Dan Standish who started his career by traveling all over the world learning the skill of winemaking. He returned to Australia to make wine at Torbreck. After making Torbreck, he starting his own project. This wine is produced from a vineyard with 100 year old vines with a yield of only a 1/2 ton on fruit per acre. In comparison to quality Napa producers, their yields are 2-3 tons per acre. Dan is absolutely one of the very best producers in Barossa.

On the nose, mulberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, lavender and violets.

The body is full, rich, ruby, lush and very inky. The texture is elegantly sexy. The 06 is still youthful & fresh. It still needs more time but, it’s delicious tonight. The length, tension, structure and balance are just coming into it own. mulberries, Olallieberries, Boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, raisins, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, purple flowers, lavender and violets. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, thick, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced with deep heat penetrating dark spices that rise off the palate and lasts several minutes. The 06 is still 5 years from it peak.

Photos of; The Standish Cellar Door, Owner/Winemaker Dan Standish, beautiful Barossa Vineyards and the old tasting room — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Mathieu has taken over winemaking and has done a fabulous job. This was all bright mid red fruits with some hues of blue and soft earthiness. Fresh & pure wire to to wire and a really nice pair with Hedy’s amazing spicy pumpkin soup. @ Plate & Bottle. Photos of, those old narly Gamay vines, Hedy’s spicy pumpkin soup, Mathieu barrel tasting and a little fireside bubbles & cheese before dinner. — 8 years ago

John McCarroll

Sales Rowan Imports

8.9

Apricots and walnuts — 9 years ago

with Kacie and Igor

Joe DAscoli

8.9

Nice Muscat. Not quite living up to Sauternes style dessert wine but dark fig flavor was still good — 9 years ago

Kirk Sutherland

9.2

Soft and structured. Kissed with enough oak. Orchard fruits and freshly cut flowers. Always delivers. — 10 years ago

Robert Newton

9.0

Honor to drink with the winemaker! — 11 years ago

Gabe Barkley

9.2

Thought 06 MX. Nice, totally different winemaking from the 2011... — 11 years ago

James Pryor

9.4

Delicious — 11 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

1978 Chuck Hope left beverage job, moved to Paso Robles, became farmer, & top grape grower. Working with his father, Austin led family into winemaking in ‘95, creating his label in 2000. Grapes from 5 small blocks of Paso Robles AVAs, aged in 75% new French oak, 18 mos. Dark Ruby, aromas of sweet ripe black fruits & dried smoky spices. Flavors of ripe blackberry, sweet cacao, espresso & vanilla oak. Big wine, fine tannins that needed 45 minutes, long fruit finish. The 15% ABV, slight burn, but ok. Nice! — 5 years ago

Marco Ambrosio

10

Smooth. Bold. The essence of Argentina — 7 years ago

James Cahill

9.2

Pulled a LP after seeing David Lentine’s note on the ‘07. This ‘06 is drinking much better than the recent cellartracker notes but like the ‘07’s that I have drank, this is missing “that extra gear” that would put it into Division I. This is a D II athlete charging a D I scholarship price point. — 8 years ago

Casey Curbow

Sales Associate Windsor Wine Merchants

9.1

Rocks and blue fruit. A cleanly, controlled ripeness. — 8 years ago

Fuzzy Snow

10

Honey, apricot, clean, the muscat flavor is amazing — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner is a 4th generation winemaker from a family with farming and winemaking roots in the Napa Valley since 1906. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot almost looks like a Cab) with aromas of ripe berries and spice notes. The palate shows rich black fruits, blackberries, plums and black cherries, vanilla spice, cedar and cacao. Rich soft tannins, firm acidity on lingering finish ending with mineral tones. Nice! — 9 years ago

Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen KC

9.1

Ripe. Lots of rich fruit but just restrained enough for balance. — 9 years ago

Michael Schamis

9.1

Rich, deep tropical fruit and honeyed nose with just a hint of smoke. The palate is full and sweet and bursting with fresh acidity. Fresh flavors of peach and apricot lead to a long and sweet but not cloying finish. — 10 years ago

William Davis

9.2

Purple core with small rim variation. Fresh black and blue fruit with olive tapenade, sage, and game. Clean winemaking. Bright acidity to keep it all in check. Could use a couple more years, although just fine now if you like tension in your wine. — 11 years ago

Andrew Reetz

9.5

Kate and Tom's first Pinot Noir! Kate just kissed the bottle. Only three mags left and we're drinking on of them. So honored! — 11 years ago

Paul Kaan

Winemaker/Blogger FilthyGoodVino.com

9.2

Now for Greece's answer to Vin Santo! Well balanced with a bit of funk & heaps of personality! — 12 years ago