Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I had this back in July of 2023. The reading is largely the same, but the integration and evolution are much better.

Charles Hendricks made one of the best CA Pinot Noirs I’ve ever had. His 2008 Hendricks Santa Lucia, Highlands was spectacular.

Charles Hendricks is one of the best and largely unknown winemakers in Northern California.

The nose is soft, ripe; blackberries, both plums, black raspberries, cinnamon, light smoke, grilled meats,?soft wood shavings, elegant and understated baking spices, touch of smoke, anise to black licorice, red roses, dark flowers, and violets 

The palate entry is ripe, touch rich, beautifully floral; blackberries, both plums, black raspberries, poached strawberries, mid berry cola, soft, new oak barrel powder, smoke, dark spice with a little bit of palate heat, forest floor with leaves, dry tobacco, Understated dry leather elegant and understated baking spices, touch of smoke, anise to black licorice, red roses, dark flowers, and violets, rainfall acidity and a finish that is very well balanced, integrated, well-toned, nicely structured, lasts nearly 90 seconds to two-minutes and long sets on earth and spice.

Photos of; the San Lucia Highlands, the new Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville and Charles Hendricks. — 5 days ago

Gor

9.3

Good stuff if only a bit too one dimensional. Cherries, pomegranate, brown sugar, bergamot, ripe blackberries. Medium+ finish. — 4 years ago

Anna Sangiacomo

9.8

The new 2016 just released. I love their sparkling wines. It’s truly one of the best if not the best domestic sparking wines. — 4 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.4

A lineup of 10 August West and Roar Pinots, 2007-2011, all made by wine maker Ed Kurtzman, who attended our tasting! This one was meaty and elegant, my #2 of the group. — 5 years ago

Colleen Sichko

9.3

One of my favorite pinots. — 6 years ago

JeremyC

9.2

First thought was if the color "purple " had a flavor this would be it. Got a bit more complex as we went further. Some delicate mineral type notes. Label says 13.6 alc and at first I LOVED the balance but the alc crept up later so now I wonder if a little BS on the alc . I like this wine and I'll also say its the first syr I've dug in a looooong time and makes me want to hv another. This is one of my last btls from the first bottling run at Roar in 2014. — 7 years ago

John

10

One of my all time favorites. — 8 years ago

Norman

9.5

This one always outperforms expectations. Was told it’s “fire” by GenZ — 3 months ago

greg stott

9.0

More fruit than spice. Would buy again. — 3 years ago

Raul Puga

9.0

Best $10 bottle ever — 4 years ago

Eric

9.4

An excellent SLH Pinot. Dark garnet in color, 14.7% ABV yet perfectly integrated. Sierra Mar is one of my favorite SLH vineyards and ROAR knows how to get the best expression fr these berries. Easily good for 3-5 years, perhaps more - has the tannins to go long. Let’s all get along. Cheers! — 5 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.3

We had fun coming up with the descriptors of the nose on this one. Twizzler, cherry cough drops, you get the idea. typical of very ripe picking that Roar is known for. — 6 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.
— 7 years ago

Brian S

9.2

Wine was better on day one. Be came to big and over oaked on day 2. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

‘Las Alturas' Spanish for 'the heights', a fitting name, this vineyard located on one of the highest grape-growing benches in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 4th gen Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner from family with farming & winemaking roots in Napa since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot I have come across). Nice berry and floral spice aromas. Rich cherry/plum flavors with oak, spice and vanilla. Long finish, bold ending with sweet oak notes. Very Nice! A Fav! — 3 years ago

David L

9.4

18’ Miner Rosella’s Pinot . Color resembles a ruby/purple. Nose fresh picked strawberries, cranberry, brown sugar mist. Opened it over a week ago and threw the cork on it. Still a full -bodied beast of a Pinot. Strong cherry, red berry flavors to it, sassafras, slightly non-expressive finish. Can’t miss if you’re patient for another year or two. One of if not the best thing I’ve enjoyed from Miner. Cheers! Wait another 2/3 years / decanting for 2 hours +. — 4 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.3

This Monterey County Pinot Noir is fairly dark and very fragrant in the glass. Aromas of black cherry, black tea, licorice and cinnamon put together the kind of display that makes me think of the holidays. Dark fruit dominates the palate, and a full set of tannins accompany the juicy sip. The Los Angeles-based Riboli family recommends pairing their Highlands 41 Pinot with grilled sausage, pasta primavera, baked salmon or roasted duck. I would toss in turkey and ham as excellent pairings. I had mine with lemon and honey Wensleydale cheese, and it was beautiful. — 5 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.4

High toned. Cranberry & pomegranate lead to some richer raspberry notes. The nose shows similar character, but adds a spiciness as it takes on air. She is truly a Grenache whisperer. Love it in every vintage and this one delivers beautifully. — 6 years ago

KDK

9.4

Fav Cali Pinot. Assertive intro with just enough oak and an elegant cherry finish. Could drink this one forever. — 8 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.2

Not as open for early drinking as the las madres. Every halcon syrah i’ve had regardless of producer has been intensely structured and slow to unwind. This is no different. In spite of the 100% wc on the las madres this one seems like the longer ager of the two. — 8 years ago