Fall From Grace
Grace Family Vineyards
Blank Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
This 2012 is at its peak now and beautiful red fruits, black fruits, stewed plum and hints of pepper on the nose. Black cherry jam on the palate with a lush and lasting silky finish coated with sweet tannins. Thanks to my good friend Joe Noll for sharing this great Napa Cab from Rutherford fruit. — 5 years ago
The Ojai Vineyard
Puerta Del Mar Chardonnay 2018
The 2018 Chardonnay Puerta Del Mar is bright and finely sculpted. Lemon oil, white flowers, mint, and a range of saline-infused overtones all grace the 2018. Weightless and yet full of flavor, the 2018 is positively stellar. It is yet another fabulous white in this range of new releases from Ojai and a terrific example of the far western edge of Santa Barbara County that is outside of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 5 years ago
Hope & Grace
Napa Valley Malbec 2007
Never thought I’d see the day I’d give a Napa malbec a score this high. Though age is a factor, this is the best Napa valley Malbec I’ve had. Everything in balance. I poured blind for a few people and Aussie Shiraz, Cabernet, and Napa Petit sirah were the guesses. On the nose, it shows ripe blackberries, currant, licorice (but not an overload like many Malbecs), dark chocolate shavings, mocha and some cedar. What separates this from other Malbecs is the complexity on the palate...not just a licorice and inky profile. Candied black cherries, ripe blackberries, baking spices, melted chocolate, and a hint of black pepper spice. Nothing flabby, dense or overly tannic about this. Smooth and in the zone. My thanks to @David T who opened my eyes to this wine (and producer)! And props to Mark who called H&G as a possible producer when he tasted this blind! — 6 years ago
Il Molino di Grace
Il Margone Gran Selezione Chianti Classico Sangiovese 2012
Vintage after vintage - this item aims one of my absolute favourites from central Tuscany. Delicious sophisticated drinking. — 7 years ago
Pierre Gonon
Saint-Joseph Syrah 2015
Felt lucky to find this youthful and robust bottle. Extremely tight and backwards but revealing of what grace lies ahead. Some castelvetrano olives, Comte and rustic baguette helped tease out the beauty from this beast. — 7 years ago
Etude
Estate Grown Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir 2014
Had this in a recent blind tasting. Aged for 12 months, very pleasant light berry fruit aromas with slight undertones of earthiness. On the palate cherry and currants with subtle spice. I would consider this one of the lighter bodied CA Pinot’s I have tasted. Soft tannins lingering ending with a mineral tang. Nice, from their 1500 acre Grace Benoit Ranch in Carneros. Consistent quality from recent tastings. — 7 years ago
A Tribute to Grace Wines
Santa Barbara County Grenache 2019
The 2019 Grenache (Santa Barbara County) is a blend from various sites in the appellation. Bright and effusive, the Santa Barbara Grenache is particularly expressive. All the elements are so complementary. Blood orange, mint, spice and star anise lend gorgeous nuance. Bright acids and a spine of tannin make this far more than an entry-level offering. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, October 2021)
— 4 years ago
Domaine Zind Humbrecht
Clos Windsbuhl Alsace Riesling 2017
What a phenomenal wine is this 2017 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling from the lieu-dit Clos Windsbuhl, tasted for the second time having first tried in 2019. Honey, orange marmalade, blood orange, hazelnut, burnt butter and a distinct smokey character grace the nose, with a touch of sea breeze alongside a very creamy note - v complex overall.
The palate is totally unique, quite full bodied, with bitter orange, pink grapefruit, zesty yet an incredibly supple texture with chalky minerality. High acidity, sure, but really quite an elegant mouthfeel that leads to a reasonably long finish. Incredibly drinkable. — 4 years ago
Colgin Cellars
Tychson Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
11’Colgin Cellars Tychson Hill Vineyard. Located just north of Saint Helena. Not that far from Grace family Vineyards.
Tightly wound straight out of the bottle. Decanted for 90 minutes. Certainly has made a world of difference.
Still full-bodied & depth, bursting with dark fruit, licorice flavor’s, back by nice floral notes, polished tannins. Slightly backwards!?! Last time I had this was five years ago & it wasn’t open for business. Now it’s screaming drink me. — 5 years ago
Tenuta di Fessina
A' Puddara Etna Bianco Carricante 2013
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our conductor Andris Nelsons is leading GERSHWIN (Piano Concerto in F), GERSHWIN (Variations on “I Got Rhythm,” for piano and orchestra) and STRAVINSKY (Petrushka) with the amazing Jean-Yves Thibaude as the piano soloist on the two first works presented today. Jean-Yves is by far among our favorite pianists to grace the Koussevitzky Shed stage, so graceful, yet poignant!
Hot days call for cool wines, today there are some fun ones planned for sharing.
Similar notes from our last bottle.
Savory herbs, beeswax, citrus pith. So wonderful! — 6 years ago
Hendricks Wines
Gold Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
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
A Tribute to Grace Wines
Hofer Vineyard Grenache 2019
What can I say I love anything Angela makes, and the new Tribute to Grace tasting room in Los Alamos is a gem. My Dad declared this was his favorite wine ever and my mom is from nearby Cucamonga, so let’s just say everyone was happy. For that reason, wine of our trip out west after not seeing the folks for 18 months. As always, just incredibly elegant Grenache, light on its feet, but not without its nuanced power — 4 years ago
Mollydooker Wines
The Boxer Shiraz 2006
Just concluded the annual Fall seclusion at our cabin in the Rangeley lakes region of Maine, mobile service up there is mostly non-existent, after several days I am posting again. Notes are somewhat brief, as my focus is relaxing and watching the Common Loons swimming and diving in the cove in front of our camp.
Nose has charred cigar box, sauteed cherries, dried blueberries, freshly whipped cream, sliced black cherry, old-dark chocolate shavings, oak bark and mashed blackberries.
Palate has earthy blackberry juice, chocolate covered cherry, wet cedar shavings, grilled raspberries, muddy-mashed cherry with a medium+ finish.
Our second to last bottle from an experimental case project, bought on release ($15) and I'm just floored on the presence of this wine in our glasses today, expressive on all fronts, quite satisfing after many years of patience. — 5 years ago
Domaine Serene
Grace Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
The ‘Grace Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a barrel selection from this exceptional site in the Dundee Hills AVA. The aromas are intoxicating right out of the gate, as this warm vintage Pinot Noir is not needing a long decant. Rose water, ripe red plums, strawberry puree and guava aromas all combine with lovely earthy and wet rock nuances that all are woven together in the beautifully glass. Exuding sheer class on the palate, this gorgoeus Pinot Noir slowly unveils ripe red fruits that mingle with minerals, potpourri, exotic spices and shades of wild blackberry jam. The silky texture entices and adds to this wonderful drinking experience. Fantastic in its youth, the Grace Vineyard Pinot Noir will shows wonderful promise for an exceedingly long evoloution ahead. Drink 2020-2040 — 6 years ago
Domaine Aspect Serene
Grace Vineyard -East Facing Slope Pinot Noir
very lush and ripe style featuring black cherry, caramel, and toasted coconut, 14.3% ABV; new cuvée blending fruit from 3 of their top vineyards including Mark Bradford, Grace, and Côte Sud: $125 — 6 years ago
Henschke
Keyneton Mount Edelstone Vineyard Shiraz 2006
Aromas of raspberry and hints of Thyme and Mint. Oak has fully blended into the fruit at 12 years and is totally balanced. The hallmark of this wine has always been its soft silky tannins; like its more famous elder sibling Hill of Grace for many more $. Medium bodied and in a great place right now in its development. Superb wine in a good vintage from a Vineyard planted in 1912 - dry grown ungrafted vines. Winery says can cellar to 2025. 9 weeks later picked the next one a little soon but I did. Notes as above. Cannot say more - just an excellent wine. Perfect with roast lamb. — 7 years ago
Henschke
Giles Lenswood Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015
Enjoying some of the wines we brought back from Australia. While the Hill of Grace is what Henschke is known for, this Pinot from the Adelaide Hills is an elegant, light style. I’m enjoying the red fruit and “Dentyne “characteristics. Medium+acidity makes this a great food wine. Lovely tea tannins lead to a sweet tart finish. — 7 years ago
"Odedi"
This is a very tasty GSM blend from Texas. Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel.
Shows black fruits with chocolate notes, tobacco, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco leaf, dry oregano and light earth.
Full bodied with medium acidity long legs.
Dry on the palate with a gorgeous nose. Really loved the nose.
A high end porch wine, and delicious all by itself.
A blend of 60% Mourvedre, 36% Syrah and 4% Grenache. Aged in oak barrels for 18 months.
14.2% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$50. — 4 years ago