Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

Happy National Wine Day! 🍷🥂🎉🎊

I haven’t had this 08 in about 3-4 years. I had four bottles then and drank them faster than I imagined it was just that insanely delicious. This Hendricks 08 Santa Lucia Pinot Noir is in the top two CA Pinot’s I’ve enjoyed. I found two bottles recently on auction for a ridiculous $40. When it’s sold in futures at the Hope & Grace tasting room it’s $75 and $90 upon release.

The nose reveals slightly baked; dark cherries, blackberries, blue fruits, lots of plum, black plum, cherries, some black raspberries & strawberries. Some of the most beautiful spice on the nose mine has come across. It’s slightly sweet, dark with a touch of incense. Crushed powdery limestone, savoriness, cola/licorice, blue & red fresh florals with violets.

The body is medium and flat out gorgeous. Its flows & dances over the palate. It’s a sexy wine. Wire to wire this wine doesn’t disappoint. Ripe and slightly candied; dark cherries, blackberries, blue fruits, lots of plum, black plum, cherries, some black raspberries, pomegranate, dry cranberries & strawberries. Beautiful dark spice with heat that lifts off the palate, nicely soft baking spices, incense crushed dry rock & powdery limestone, some rich, moist, dark earth, savoy meats, dry stems, spice, cola/licorice, blue & red fresh florals with violets. The acidity is spectacular. The length, structure and balance have hit its peak. The finish is; rich, ripe, the definition of elegance, perfectly balanced and doesn’t end. It just goes on & on.

Photos of; Santa Lucia vines, Winemaker-Charles Hendricks doing the heavy lifting in the cellar l, grapes waiting to be crushed and the Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville where this wine is sold. Charles is the Winemaker for Hope & Grace as well. — 7 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.2

Even better the second time around. Showing good weight and perfect balance of fruit, spice, and sandalwood. Quite complex and long - Punches well above its modest price tag. VGV — 8 years ago

with Rocket

Jason Yang

8.9

Great nose: plums and chocolate and vanilla. Palate a little flat. — 8 years ago

Randall South

9.3

Great age, drinking beautifully — 9 years ago

Keith Whitener WSET Diploma, CSW

9.0

I like it. Bacchus and Venus wine club shipment — 9 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.0

Popped open an owc of this to try out. Cherry, earth, leather and dried herbs not great as it also seemed a little flat and dull on the finish. Expected more! — 10 years ago

Dave Kluz

9.1

Blackberry and bramble. Earthy, spicy and minty. Light, delicate but with lots of density. — 10 years ago

with Anne-Charlotte

Julia Crowley

9.8

Lovely tropical bliss in this rich, complex Sav Blanc. Pineapple, grapefruit, limes. Silky mouthfeel, great acidity! — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.1

A Michel chapoutier wine imported direct by country vintners. A cool climate Syrah from Australia. — 12 years ago

Harri Mäki

9.0

Like flat apple cider but fantastic! — 7 years ago

Kevin M

9.0

The 2006 Rusty Shed Chardonnay is a blend of four blocks of Chardonnay on the Flat Rock Property. Grapes are hand picked and hand sorted before whole bunch pressing takes place. It was then cold settled in stainless steel, 100% barrel fermented and left on the lees for 10 months. Wild and commercial yeasts were used for primary fermentation, followed by malolactic fermentation to soften the natural acidity. The result?
Beautiful example of a mid to full bodied Chardonnay with butter, vanilla, apples and light spice on the palate. A lot of flavour and elegance at this price point. Sampled this 2006 in 2017 but this should sit well and perhaps develop more for a few more years. Best part? It's from Niagara! Loved it!
#chardonnay #flatrockcellars #twentymilebench #therustyshed #niagarawine #ontariowine #coolclimatechardonnay #vqa #2006niagaraharvest #niagaraescarpment #niagarachardonnay
— 8 years ago

Hugh O'Riordan

9.4

2002 and silky smooth — 8 years ago

Carol Krakowski

9.5

Very fresh, smooth, fruity but not sweet — 8 years ago

Jason Brater

9.0

Cedar and black cherry and yummy w nice tannin — 9 years ago

TheSkip

9.1

Wow. Unbelievable QPR here. Soft tannins, nice mouthfeel. Fruit forward and lingering finish. Not overly oaked. Thanks LastBottle. — 9 years ago

Lesa Gough

9.0

Wow, talk about value. Delicious, well balanced, great Napa red blend. Deep color, ample jammy fruit, berries and plums, with nice tannin and acid structure. — 10 years ago

JBo

8.9

Let it breathe. A true grape, thin but dark, youthfully flat with a side tongue sting that smoothes out when you let it breathe Washes down like water but leaves a hard candy mark. — 10 years ago

Patrick Ayotte

9.0

Translucid ruby color. Nose of red berries, spices, earth with a leafy / tree scent. On the palate, nice fruit profile, small earthy and mineral bitterness, good acidity and fresh, spicy finish. French style Pinot. Very good (90)

Made of Pinot Noir coming from 15 different parcels from Flat Rock vineyards. Aged for about 8 months in oak barrels. Alcohol level of 12,5% — 10 years ago

Julie Bandi

8.9

A bitter but good flavoring. — 11 years ago

with Sue and Jack

Laura Smith

9.1

Kinda bubbly but delicious — 12 years ago

Stephanie Schwindel

9.2

Oak, peppery, blackberry, leather, cherry, acidic, bright — 8 years ago

Lauri Uusitalo

9.4

At Flat Iron in London. — 8 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.0

When you have to travel on a Sunday, and that Sunday happens to be Mother's Day, you're not exactly psyched. This little oasis in the Delta Sky Club afforded me the opportunity to smile. Not a bad pour, regardless of the price. Typical Lynch-Bages cigar tobacco and leather with some luscious and velvety black fruit. Finished a little flat, most likely due to being open for a while in the fancy automated pour gizmo. But still smiling! — 8 years ago

Rafael Landestoy

9.2

Tried my first wine from a mystery pack that I ordered from Last Bottle and it was great. Awesome bottle especially for $20. The Syrah/Mourvèdre gave it a richness and jammy characteristic. Great mouthfeel. @TheSkip have you had this one yet? — 8 years ago

with Ilida

Renwood Winery

Marketing Director, Renwood Winery

10

Renwood Winery 2013 Jack Rabbit Flat Zinfandel

Strong aromatics of black currant and anise are woven together with crushed raspberry, sweet cream, and hints of cedar. On the palate, the layered complexity of this wine is complimented by its excellent weight and balance, making it a signature Jack Rabbit Flat Zinfandel. Fresh and teeming with black cherry and hazelnut, this Zinfandel will evolve beautifully in the bottle for years to come.

100% Zinfandel.
— 9 years ago

Collin Moody

10

"Excuse me doctors, is this the Roulot Bougogne Blanc you ordered?" Please apply liberally and please enjoy. — 10 years ago

with Brendan and Nelson

Cory Stemshorn

9.4

Smith Madrone tasting — 10 years ago

Kassandra Kitz

9.0

This wine was great! No bitter after taste for me and the little bit of sweetness was nice - not too much. — 10 years ago

Aileen Besharat

9.6

A delicious sweet treat! — 11 years ago

Amber Sessford

10

Sweet very yummy! — 12 years ago