Ming L

9.0

Tasted this about a year ago. This second bottle does not have the wow factor like the first one. The nose is less fragrant and more meaty, and the palate a bit more herbal and angular, which is probably true to the varietal. Still a very complex wine. Have 1 bottle left and hopefully I can keep my hands off for another 2-3 years.
250 cases, and I believe the wine maker for the vintage is Bevan. Bennett Valley is the smallest, and probably the least known Sonoma sub AVA. — 4 years ago

Will Stanley

9.4

Animally, meaty, dark, smokey and brooding - on the nose at least. Opened up after an hour’s decant and was far more rounded on the second night. Has that classic piercing Syrah quality that seems to swamp one’s airways - and plenty of barnyard funk for some time after opening.

On the palate it’s quite mellow, enveloping, beautifully rounded, medium bodied, with just enough acidity and tannin to give it life. I’d love to have tried this five years ago when I feel like it would have had the power to better impersonate a Hermitage. But, no doubt, it’s superb now.

Interestingly (to me!) I actually found this quite hard to distinguish between a decent Rioja. It is very similar in many ways to La Rioja Alta’s Viña Ardanza. Both in the fruit and the presence / quality of oak. The only difference lying perhaps in richness and depth of fruit.

Overall, a beauty of a wine - one of the appellation’s finest. — 6 years ago

Gunja Gargeshwari

9.6

WOTN!! Melanson Vineyard on Pritchard Hill - similar to the TOR Melanson from a few weeks ago - it was outstanding!! — 7 years ago

with Amit and Norman

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Purchased not long ago by Bill Foley of Foley Family Wines, who will continue traditions that Fred Furth began in 1972. 2015 was a perfect year for Chard. Aromas of tropical fruits, spice and citrus. On the palate melon & apricot, tad creamy with some citrus zest and toasty oak notes. Smooth and lingering, well balanced, nice acidity, ending with fruit and spicy oak. A Fav! Good value! — 7 years ago

C R

9.7

What a wine! Last time I had this was 4 + years ago, and the wine has evolved beautifully. By far the best example of this Colombis 2007 I’ve had, it combines great strength with finesse, first aromatics of wild berries with some secondary notes of sous-bois and truffle. Grand. — 7 years ago

Paul T HB

9.8

Had a mag of this 2004 a few months ago, finally found a .750 at a reasonable price, just as great as the mag.
Time to hunt for some more — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

One of the pleasures in life is having a 10 year old Clare Valley Riesling. Had the last one a year ago in August 2020. This time some kerosene notes creeping in with the peachy notes. Honeyed nuances on the palate. Delicious. Diminished acid but could be kept for a few more years. A little chalky minerality. I think I have one left. — 4 years ago

William Paley

9.4

another long haul surprise found in the back of the fridge....cola sap tar and here and there a bit of bright cherry comes through....perhaps over the hill but only slightly and still a unique pleasure like it was 20 years ago at the babbo bar... — 5 years ago

with Jess

Keith Crump

9.0

2017 a far better wine then the last batch of Trinity Hill Tempranillo I purchased which collapsed into sour plum jam this had body but some delicate dancing note — 6 years ago

Ross Bathgate

9.0

What a pretty lovely medium-light bodied Pinot. Really in its drinking window. Perfect mid week sharing with my beloved wife. Especially as we bought it together at the winery around 7 years ago. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Went to a tasting and they were featuring Chalk Hill, winery now owned by Bill Foley, of Foley Family Wines, who continues the traditions that Fred Furth, who founded CH in 1972. Had this ‘16 about a year ago. Rich deep straw color with aromas of stone and tropical fruits and citrus notes. On the palate ripe apple, sweet melon and lemon flavors with gentle vanilla toasty oak. Well balanced on lingering finish ending with oak and mineral notes. Aged well. Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Michael Herzog

8.9

Coravined. Fresh fruit. Coravined from 1.5 years ago. Like I just opened it. — 7 years ago

with Judy

Justin Wittkopf

9.8

Wow, what a wine! Best of 2018 for us so far. Pop and pour. Lovely garnet color. Gorgeous nose of dark cherry and plum, mocha, tobacco and graphite. At first there was an overt cinnamon and vanilla oak scent, too, but that dissipated within an hour. Palate was silky smooth and elegant and perfectly balanced. For a nearly 10 year old wine this was still lively, broad, and deep. Tannins had subsided a bit but provided great grip and balanced well with the remaining acidity. Classy wine and that really blew us away. Recommend an hour or two of decanting for this. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

See previous tasting note from 43 weeks ago. This is an excellent aged Chardonnay from Great Southern in WA, an area better known for excellent Riesling and Shiraz. This had remnants of toasty oak, stone fruit and a little leesy funk. Drinking really well. — 4 years ago

Bobby Gilbane

9.4

Treats from a far away land are always appreciated in my dojo. — 5 years ago

Paul T HB

9.7

Parker/ lisa 💯
97 for now, give it another 5-10 years to open up. Typical Pritchard Hill.
Had my first 2012 four years ago, nice to see the improvement.
2 bottles left — 6 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.0

I tried the 13 vintage a couple of years ago. This one is just as smooth. A full, ripe, and fruit forward wine. I like it. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

This is just the Pinot Noir but that choice not available from Delectable. Quite dense in colour. Notes of beetroot and rhubarb on nose and palate. Full lush and delicious. A great discovery from the annual Tasmanian Pinot expo at the Pinot Shop in Launceston which we visited a few months ago. Exceptional QPR at $35. Some savoury aspects - suspect a % of whole bunch. Soft and flavoursome from a good vintage. Similar notes to a 2nd bottle 171 weeks later on 2/2/22. Quite a rich Pinot and thoroughly delicious. Luckily I have 4 left. — 7 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.1

I so rarely encounter a great Gewürztraminer from outside Alsace, and when I do, it’s most likely from the Anderson Valley. This Phillips Hill bottling is no exception. Striking in its aromatic intensity - dried ginger, rose water, thyme, pine sap, crushed stones, and white pepper - the wine is vinified nearly bone dry, resulting in a taut, lean structure that moves with spritely dynamism. The floral and spice tones meet fruitier flavors on the palate - white peach and lemon soda. A far cry from the California Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs that dominate the Golden State’s white wine scene. — 7 years ago

with Stacy and Mitchell

Mark Flesher

9.4

Firing. On. All. Cylinders. Wine was purchased about 3.5 years ago in a six-pack and was intended to be consumed rather fast. Back story: ran into a 12 pack of 2005 "Prima Voce" close to 10 years ago at about 10 bucks per bottle and was told it was "ok" for an Italian blend but it wouldn't last longer than a year or so (but noone knew for sure). It. Killed. Come to realize the only reason it was available readily in the states was because Kendall Jackson acquired them. Fast forward about 6 years from that and requested to find this one. Today, Arceno is still under the KJ umbrella. Have slowly been drinking on the ones I found a few years ago. This wine is rather aromatic even from Coravin. Dirty raspberry, grilled meat, Italian spice on the nose. Medium + density and mouthfeel. Acidity has died down quite a bit, allowing a floral dirty raspberry to show up front, losing a lot of sweetness. that I remember,Leathery and "bloody" in the middle. Finishes with some brambly herb, green olive, and a hint of black pepper spice. This wine is RIGHT at the top of the hill now. There are many 12 year old Chiantis that I would gladly pass on, but this one is a definite "yes please" even at 12 years of age. Ratings likely in the 8's because people just don't give this one the time that it needs. D — 8 years ago