Love Charles Pinots. I do like the Doctors Vineyard from Santa Lucia slightly over the Russian River.
I hold these 5-6 years from bottling, not vintage before I start drinking his Pinots. Excellent Floral fruits, strawberries, pomegranate, dry cranberries, some blackberries, haunting raspberries, cherries, red cola/licorice, dry crushed rocks, fresh to dryish herbs, mid dark spice, vanillin, nutmeg, soft cinnamon, limestone marl, hints of fresh tobacco, wood shavings, red, dark, blue flowers framed in violets. Rainfall acidity with excellent tension, well balanced, nicely structured, floral and polished finish. — 10 months ago
2012 vintage bought at the winery. Deep rich purple colour. Big black fruit aromas with kirsch, cardomann and black pepper. This is a smooth wine. Spicy ripe blackberry and cherry, baker’s spice and vanilla. Medium acidity and tannins, I wish it had more lift at the finish. Don’t get me wrong, this is a nice wine. — 4 years ago
It has been a great day hanging out with my love & best friend for Valentines Day. If I could give anyone young enough advise on selecting partner, marry your best friend you love. Greater degree of happiness & success. ❤️😍😘🥰
Love you Sofia and raise a glass of one of our favorite N/V Rosé Bubbles in celebration. Cheers! 🍾🥂
Happy Valentines Days everyone. Hope you are with the wine & one you love the most.
@Oswald — 4 years ago
This is actually the Albariño blend, but who really gives a damn. I do. It’s tasty. It’s light and happy. It’s the perfect one glass quaff before my to go is “ding ding, order up!” — 5 years ago
It's a Rippa! — 7 years ago
Charles still makes my favorite new world Malbec. Ten years old the better. But, the drink nicely young. Just lush, ruby, rich and elegant on the palate. Blackberries, black raspberries, glorious raspberries, dark cherries, some strawberries. Both light and dark colas/licorice. Dry brush, dark chocolate, rich dark soil, medium baking spices, caramel, some pepper, violets for days, great acidity and a very well balanced, polished finish that lasts minutes. — 10 months ago
Very smooth blend. Not too acidic. Not sweet. — 4 years ago
Dependable good taste! $13 H-E-B — 5 years ago
West London Wine — 5 years ago
Smelled of deep, rich herbal earth. Like a warm summer afternoon hiking in the foothills of Appalachia. The taste was so starkly different to be unrecognizable. Butter, like a steak basted in butter. Fruit was an afterthought, but the entire thing was still big and bold and tricks your senses. Like dating a red headed girl. — 6 years ago
This is a non vintage blend and where the Hendricks fruit goes when Charles doesn’t deem it perfect for his private label Hendricks. This is what I miss from the new winemaker at James Cole, it is very elegant.
The palate is round, lush, ruby, creamy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries, blue fruit hues. Dark and milk chocolate-more dark, caramel, black and some red licorice/cola, herbaceous notes, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather, sandalwood, barrel powder, soft Indian spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark, rich soil, a fresh dark and mid red floral bouquet, excellent round acidity with a well structured, knitted, very well balanced and polish for days. Lasts two minutes plus. — 10 months ago
Tart black cherry, anise, pine and alpine vibes, high acidity, low spicy tannins.
A beautiful Cali Barbera with the acidity and spice of Piemonte, with the high toned fruit of California sunshine. I love! — 3 years ago
Burst of ripe fruits with hint of Tabasco, opens up very quick, taste of chocolate, beautiful wine by itself — 4 years ago
Better with some time open. — 4 years ago
Watermelon aqua fresca, grassy, sour cherry on the finish. Nice minerality. — 5 years ago
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. — 6 years ago
Lean and mean. 1st day had some pleasant reductive funk, day 2 had blown off. I’d compare to cru bojo, bough more savory/less fruit. 10% alcohol. Tasty. 👍 — 7 years ago
Justin Whitley
Corey’s birthday dinner at American Elm. We both loved this wine. — 9 months ago