Paul T HB

9.9

Mag,
2nd day is essential, opened yesterday & decanted 4 hours today. This is right there with the 2005.
Its been 4 years since my last 07, it still has plenty of life but why wait when you can decant🤷🏼‍♂️
The 29 Estate vineyard is situated on the east-facing hillside at the base of the Mayacamas range, a couple miles north of St. Helena and just above Highway 29. The soil here is clay loam with gravel deposits, deeper at the bottom of the slope and shallower and rockier toward the top (the Sauvignon Blanc is planted in the rockiest spot, followed by the Cabernet Franc and then Cabernet Sauvignon). The slope and soil content ensure good drainage, while the rocks and gravel allow the roots to penetrate deep, ensuring more stable vines and more consistent ripeness. Average yields here for Cabernet Sauvignon are a moderate 2.8 to 3.2 tons per acre, held down by the vine stress associated with steep vines.

Vineyard 29 is located in the narrow hourglass part of Napa Valley and benefits from consistently good air flow. Even in 2008, there was just a touch of frost at the bottom of the vineyard, according to McMinn, who noted that his Aida vineyard just two miles to the north is typically six or seven degrees warmer. The site also benefits from its eastern exposure, capturing early morning sunlight but with the mountain above protecting the vines against the most intense afternoon sun. The result is slow, consistent ripening of the grapes and healthy sugar levels with much less risk of desiccation, which in turn means rounder, more integrated tannins. Although St. Helena is a very warm region, day-night temperature variation at Vineyard 29 is among the widest in Napa Valley, according to McMinn.

Thanks to Vineyard 29’s well-aerated site and protection from the hottest afternoon sun, the estate Cabernet always has sound acidity; it has never been acidified, according to winemaker Emerson. The pH of the Vineyard 29 estate wine is typically between 3.75 and 3.9, and alcohol levels are moderate by Napa Valley standards, almost always in the high 14s (with 2009 the only vintage to have exceeded 15%). The wines are frequently characterized by black and blue fruits—cassis, blackberry, blueberry—and notes of chocolate, licorice and spices. Compared to the Grace Family Vineyards wine, made from a vineyard barely 200 yards to the north from the same plant material, the Vineyard 29 wine is characteristically a bit less floral and delicate but riper and denser, combining power with typically plush, ripe tannins. Emerson noted that Vineyard 29 is typically harvested at least a week later than the Grace site, noting that the tannins “take a long time to lose their chalky character and come around.” Luckily, he added, “the fruit here can hang for a long time without getting too crazy with sugar.” And the estate routinely picks in two passes, typically seven to ten days apart.

— 3 years ago

Shay A

9.5

What an incredible second day here in Napa. Jesus started us off with an amazing tasting at Davies/Schramsberg, Crocker & Starr gave us our cab franc fix, Montagu & Addax put on a double tasting, and Hourglass knocked it out of the park at the end of the day! I won’t post each wine we tasted, but I’ll highlight the best from each spot.

@jesus g was a killer host. He opened up some older sparklers to compare against new releases as well as poured some very impressive JDavies reds, including the Diamond Mtn Cab. This JSchram Reserve ‘08 though was on a different level. Honeyed almond, apricot, lemon curd. Texture and acidity were seductive at 10yrs old. Happy to have one tucked away for the foreseeable future. Legit, @jesus g ! — 6 years ago

with jesus

Mike Mayer

9.4

Wow! Dark fruit, tobacco and some earthiness on the nose. Deep, dark Garnett color in the glass. Intense fruit forward tastes of blackberries, dew berries and currants along with dark roast coffee, licorice and cocoa. Sleek mouthfeel and an incredibly long, luscious finish. Will be visiting Hourglass in a few weeks and I really can't wait! — 7 years ago

with Lisa

Norman Gennaro

9.7

This was great and to think it was still going strong. Killed the '07 Hourglass. In magnum — 7 years ago

with Jason, Rina and 3 others

Mike Mayer

9.2

A great example of how good Merlot can be. Full bodied but elegant, fruit forward but subtle. Tannins are very sleek for such a young wine. Powerfully structured for a number of years in your cellar if you don't give in to drinking it sooner. Love it! — 7 years ago

with Lisa

Palmer Emmitt

Owner/Winemaker Judge Palmer

9.2

Elegant Franc right in its drinking prime. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.

Theorem was one of our highlights last year, so we made sure a return visit was lined up this year. Base of Diamond Mtn with one of the most beautiful properties I’ve seen. Over the last 12 months, they’ve added a couple new wines (with more to come from Moon Mountain). TRB is the winemaker.

Fairly similar to the Hourglass SB in that its profile is rich yet tight and zippy. Heavy amounts of lemon tart, limestone, slate, sea salt and fresh cut grass. Lots of acidity here, but there is a component about it that adds a roundness right before the finish which keeps it from being totally sharp. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.5

What an incredible second day here in Napa. Jesus started us off with an amazing tasting at Davies/Schramsberg, Crocker & Starr gave us our cab franc fix, Montagu & Addax put on a double tasting, and Hourglass knocked it out of the park at the end of the day! I won’t post each wine we tasted, but I’ll highlight the best from each spot.

Without a doubt the highlight of the Addax & Montagu Tasting. This ‘15 Tench Cabernet has winemaker Russell Bevan all over it. More of an iron fist in a velvet glove than I found the ‘14 to be. Red, black and blue fruits on the nose but the weight showed so much structure and appeal...best word to use here is plush. The fruit was so incredibly soft alongside the smoke, mint, and cassis. The new Addax Ritchie Chardonnay was tasted against Montagu’s Ritchie Chardonnay and it was a tie. 👌 — 6 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Awaiting correction, but this is the Blueline Estate, Ambassador Cuvée. Not familiar with this and no info on the website. Hoping @Anthony Biagi can shed some light. 240 bottles produced, so initially thought a single barrel wine. Hmm.. no Varietal listed, so now thinking a blend. Gave this four hours of air on Christmas Eve. Shy on the nose to start, but smooth and elegant with blackberry. Merlot? Nose is more open on night two. Cab Franc? Some menthol sneaking in on the nose as well. Whatever composition of a Bdx blend it is, it is a treat to drink and putting a positive note on the 2011 vintage. — 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

We are all aware of the fires ravaging Napa & Sonoma. Regusci survived with basically a little something more than scorched property as shown in the top photo. One of the lucky ones. The picture on the left shows Laura Regusci and her young son Andrew with fire extinguishers having fought property flames to protect their buildings. In crisis, vintners really come together. That’s Rob Mondavi Jr. helping them with the 17 vintage. I emailed with Jeff Smith of Hourglass and they were helping follow vintners crush grapes etc. at their property who were still without power etc.. Napa/Sonoma is so community strong! The real heroes in all this are the Firefighters in bottom photo. They walk right into the frontline of flames without a second thought. They have been working in some cases three straight shifts a day and then pulling up only a piece of the ground to get some sleep. Some of these Firefighters lost their homes in the fires as well. If you’d like to support these brave Firefighters who have lost everything while at the same time fighting to save others, the Int’l Association of Firefighters has set up a fund for Firefighters who have lost their homes. Here is the link to donate, http://www.gofundahero.com/campaign/detail/4913 🚒. The Regusci 2010 Zinfandel on the nose is; blackberries, boysenberries, dark cherries, huckleberries, poached strawberries, black licorice, baking spices, dark rich earth, dry top soil, bramble, volcanic minerals, violets, lavender and lilacs. The body is round and rich with juicy fruits. The tannins are soft and well resolved. Fruits are ripe; boysenberries, huckleberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, dark cherries & pomegranate. Nice baking spices; vanilla, clove and cinnamon. Rich dark earth, crushed rocks, dry top soil, soft volcanic minerals, black cherry cola/licorice, red florals, violets, light lavender, lilacs, waterfall acidity and a long, elegant, round, rich, juicy fruit finish that’s is consistent all the way through and lasts well over a minute. It’s somewhere around it’s peak with a few more years of good drinking left. Paired well with the slightly spicy Kentucky Bourbon chicken skewers. All our prays and hopes for the people in Napa and Sonoma. — 7 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.2

Chocolate covered cherry on the nose along with baking spice. Bold flavors of caramel, cherry, toasty nutmeg, and oak. The tannins are sleek and nicely integrated. We love Hourglass wines. This one does not disappoint. — 7 years ago

with Lisa

Carl Fischer

9.3

Delicious first vintage from winemaker Anthony Biagi of Hourglass. I couldn't believe the amount of sediment on the cork or the dark inky color. This was a delicious wine and a bargain that is drinking so well with a quick decant. A big wine with soft tannins. Very nice. — 8 years ago

Joe Roth

9.0

The beat goes on! Beautiful juice. — 6 years ago

with Michael

Mike Mayer

9.1

Lots of floral aromatics with maybe a slight hint of just mowed grass. Lots of plum, blackberries, baking spices and a little cocoa on the palate. Tannins are super sleek providing a nice complexity to go along with perfect acidity. The finish is long and wonderful. Good now and probably good in 10 years. Love it! — 6 years ago

with Lisa

Shay A

9.4

What an incredible second day here in Napa. Jesus started us off with an amazing tasting at Davies/Schramsberg, Crocker & Starr gave us our cab franc fix, Montagu & Addax put on a double tasting, and Hourglass knocked it out of the park at the end of the day! I won’t post each wine we tasted, but I’ll highlight the best from each spot.

We are all die hard Cab Franc fans, so a stop here was a must after @Carl Fischer introduced me to this cab franc last year. First, the property itself is flat out gorgeous. Quaint and quiet. Awesome history here as well.

This cab franc is a BABY. New release. Red and black fruits are still fighting to take over...didn’t get much blueberry off of this like I did the ‘12, but age plays a part. Violet, lavender, black truffle and a touch of spice. A benchmark for Napa Cab Franc, alongside Arnyca and Detert. The Post 1 bottle is their current release (2013) Cabernet that is their purest expression of Cabernet from the Estate. This is serious Cabernet...tannic, structured and could compete with top end mountain wines. — 6 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.5

The best merlot coming out of Napa? Hard to say, but definitely in the top three for me (Paloma, Hourglass and this). So much fruit wrapped in a silky package (@Bill Bender don’t go there). Hedonistic, but still so balanced. And an ‘11 to boot. This followed two exceptional wines and held its own. — 6 years ago

Ned blodgett

9.2

Decanted for Two hours and this wine really opened up with lots of black fruits. Great blend of cab, merlot and petite syrah — 7 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.4

Tight out of the gate. Opens to show focus on dense black and blue fruits. Powerful and polished, with a dark and dry finish. — 7 years ago

with Alex, P and 1 other

Andrew S

9.5

Amazing. Length for days. So many little flavors just keep bouncing around. You can sit and ponder each sip, and the glass could take an hour of you life. That's a nice hourglass! Still tastes like a baby, but in a great spot now too. — 8 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.0

I love Bob's style of winemaking across the board, but especially his Merlots (Switchback, Pride, Hourglass, and his own label is no exception). This one is Big, bold, very fruit-forward with pronounced oak (but not overpowering) and fairly strong tannins. This is still a baby and made me understand what they mean by a "Cab lover's Merlot". — 9 years ago