Yuki Watanabe

9.1

Burst of ripe fruits with hint of Tabasco, opens up very quick, taste of chocolate, beautiful wine by itself — 6 years ago

Hugh O'Riordan

9.4

This 2009 is. Wonderful deep chocolate cab . Really good juice. — 7 years ago

Ron R

9.4

Notes of coffee on the nose. Typical Napa cab presentation. On the palate it’s tannic and boisterous, but it demonstrates its pedigree. Black cherries dominate the palate. My type of cab, which needs bottle age. — 8 years ago

with Robert, Anne-marie and 1 other

Eric

9.2

Really ballsy and unique wine. Today’s tasting in Yountville will go down as one of my favorites of all time. First I’d ever heard of this grape, grown in Paso. Black fruit covered in licorice. If you go (and I’d highly recommend it), go for the cheese pairing it’s well worth it. — 8 years ago

Joseph Hauge II

10

Picked up this bottle in October at the winery in Chianti. Enjoying it in Arizona for our anniversary. Fantastic wine. Highly recommend it. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Softer, rounded black fruits than in July. Blue fruits are starting to show a bit more. Cherry chocolate follows. Soft black earthiness with a touch of soft minerals. Light vanilla presence and medium barrel toast come out on the soft elegant finish. Good acidity is the one lacking element in their 08. It's off just a bit. 9.3-9.4 with the Ribcap steak...Michael Mina's-Bourbon Steak. — 10 years ago

Mitch Finne

9.1

Delicious Malbec. Nice structure without any distracting flavors or excessive tannins. — 11 years ago

with Jason

Michael VeeEss

9.7

Lovely at Loulay. — 12 years ago

Arian Ashworth

10

Matt keiser selection — 12 years ago

Austin Baird

9.2

100 percent Syrah from Red Mountain. Delicious, light to medium bodied. Apparently hard to get distributed, but worth it! — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I kid you not, Charles Hendricks is likely the most underrated & under known Winemaker in Napa Valley.

If you have not had his wines, you are missing out on great wines & relative real value for Napa. He makes his own private higher end label-Hendricks, Hope & Grace and midway through the 14 vintage for; James Cole, Regusci & T-Vine.

There are few Winemakers that can make wines that drink well young & some that will age two decades plus stored correctly.

This Santa Lucia Doctor’s Vineyard is really good but, his private label Hendricks Pinot from Santa Lucia is off the charts. His 2008 Hendricks Pinot Noir is the highest rating I have ever given a Ca Pinot Noir, 98.

The 13 Doctor’s Vineyard is better than his 12 & is still a little early right now. It will improve over the next 5 years & hold there a couple of years before its gentle decline.

The nose reveals, ripe, well extracted & slightly baked; blackberries, stewed, deep, dark, black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, dry pomegranate & cranberries with shades of blueberries. Dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, touch of savory meats, anise to black licorice, black tea, wet clay, steeped black tea, touch of herbs dominated with Rosemary, rich, black, earth, dry stones, dry crushed rocks, fresh tobacco, leather notes, volcanic minerals, limestone with bright, fresh & withering florals that are; dark, red, purple, blue mixed in violets and lavender.

The body is full, rich, lush and gorgeous. The structure, tension, length and balance are just hitting their good phase. It is simply a beautiful & complex Pinot Noir. Nicely extracted & slightly baked; blackberries, stewed, deep, dark, black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, dry pomegranate & cranberries with more blueberries than the nose. Dark spices that bring palate heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, touch of savory meats, peppery notes, anise to black licorice, black tea, wet clay, steeped black tea, touch of herbs dominated with Rosemary, rich, black, earth, dry stones, dry crushed rocks, fresh tobacco, leather notes, volcanic minerals, limestone with bright, fresh & withering florals that are; dark, red, purple, blue mixed in violets and lavender. The acidity is very good & excellent at containing the slightly higher ABV. The long, complex finish is, well balanced fruit & earth, polished and will persist until dawn.

Photos of; Their Doctor’s Vineyard, one of my favorite paintings that used to hang behind the bar in their tasting room & now hangs in Charles’ house (it reminds me of a Jackson Pollock), Winemaker-Charles Hendricks and the front of their tasting room in downtown Yountville.
— 6 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.0

Fresh black fruit with smooth tannins and great acidity. 1y in French barriques and tonneaux perfectly integrated. This one has great freshness and good structure. — 8 years ago

Andrew Lam

9.0

Well integrated fruit and nice spice. Had with a variety of food from octopus to porchetta. — 9 years ago

with Jeremy and Graciela

Elizabeth Littlejohn

9.0

Love this cab! — 10 years ago

Sergio Licea

9.2

Stewed blackberries, black raspberries, earth, anise, baking spices. Excellent acid/minimal smooth velvet tannin balance, juicy slightly silky texture, medium bodied, fruity warm spicy finish. Big fruit with the acid structure to support it. — 11 years ago

Matt Duncan

9.6

Mint attack, coco prune, orange blossom. Robust tannin appears. Tremendous! — 11 years ago

Lois Britton

9.1

Anniversary wine! — 12 years ago

Trish Barry

10

Nothing more to say about this wine except for AMAZING!!! — 12 years ago

Alicia Crank

9.7

Force of Nature — 13 years ago

Sarah Stierch

Food & Wine Editor Sonoma Valley Sun

9.0

Pretty good. Lots of fruit. Way better than last year. — 7 years ago

Jennifer Pletcher

9.2

Tastes like buttered popcorn! — 7 years ago

Brian Tuite

9.4

I should really be buying and drinking much more of this. — 8 years ago

Jeremy Bowen

9.0

Typical zin fruit and spice, but a bit lighter on the tannins. Pairs well with grilled meats. — 8 years ago

Sarah L

10

$8 hannaford — 9 years ago

Alicia Cypress

9.0

Easy drinking, cherries and peppery spice and everything nice. These pinots are always a bit bigger, but the heat wasn't noticeable and its lush mouthfeel complemented a great conversation with a friend and mentor. — 9 years ago

Phil

9.1

Red and black fruit dominates, but organic earth provides an evening balance. The oak is well integrated. Would love to try this in 10 years. — 10 years ago

Lenard Henson

9.3

Lenard had this 11 years ago

Michael Spinella

10

Brought this baby up to ski weekend and cracked it open. Drinking perfectly, I might say. — 11 years ago

Mike Dombrow

Buyer Sunfish Cellars

9.0

Loverly little Cab Franc. Softish with rounded corners but a beautiful little funky caboose. — 12 years ago

with Jeff

Patrick Hu

9.0

Earth, leather on the nose. Really nice tannins. A winner. — 12 years ago