David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

A Charles Hendricks wine.

Medium plus tannins. Ripe, rich, floral fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, black plums/ extra skin, dark cherries, plum pudding, dark spice with heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, mid berry cola/licorice, dark rich soil with dry leaves, dry tobacco, dry twig, cedar, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, fresh to candied; dark, red, purple flowers, round, sharp acidity, highly structured, well tensioned, balanced finish that lasts two-minutes and lands on minerals.

Good tonight…better in 5-7 years.

Photos; James Cole, Silverado sign, bronze logo statue and private tasting room. — 7 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

@Delectable this is the Tres Noir.

2019 was their first vintage for the bottling. The softest in the tasting. It however had some very dry medium to medium plus tannins. The fruits is quite nice. Floral; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, stewy plums, dark chocolate, mocha powder, dry clay & top soil, crushed rocks, dry tobacco, leathery, big, dark spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dry herbs, tree bark, sandalwood, light salted caramel notes, bright candied, dark, red, purple florals, nice round acidity with a well balanced, structured finish that is sound wire to wire. Not the wines that Charles made but the Tres Noir is pretty good.

— 10 months ago

Jake Hajer

9.1

Bright red fruit. Good acidity. Enjoyed. — a year ago

Jake Hajer

9.1

Light bodied. Strawberries. — a year ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

Mother Mary of God! Near Pomerol like. Charles Hendricks masterpiece. Menthol & a touch of mint.

Stunning vintage & wine.

This 07 is in perfect shape…at its peak. Still has 7 plus years of life.

Black raspberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, purple fruits, dark chocolate/pudding, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, softened, cinnamon stick, vanilla, dark, rich soils, moist, limestone mush, black tea, black licorice, bay leaf, salted caramel, dryish twig, menthol, mint, volcanic ash, sandalwood, dark withering to candied, red, blue florals, lavender framed in violets with perfect acidity and a amazingly, structured, well knitted/tensioned and elegantly polished finish that lasts minutes falling squarely on earthy minerality.

Second wine with an Allen Brither’s Ribcap recently bought on the secondary market for $55.

Photos of; James Cole on Silverado Trail, brass statue that is their bottle logo & their private tasting room. — 15 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

This was a nice thought. Would have been nice to a Charles James Cole wines. But, this is a little cooked and finally pulled the cork after times coravining it over days. I’ll stop here. — 10 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Very Bandol in style. Simple, fresh, easy to drink. Tangerine, pink grapefruit, strawberry, hints of fresh rhubarb flesh, citrus blend, dry crushed rocks, river stone, some chalkiness, pink roses, white flowers, good acidity and simple fresh but uneventful finish. — 10 months ago

Ming L

9.5

My first bottle was 2 years ago, and this only gets better.
The nose is the interplay of oak spices, earth, and juicy ripe black fruit core. Rich, dense, and silky, underpinned by lively acidity. Long bitter sweet finish.
Wish I bought more. — 4 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

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

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Again, nice but not the full, rich, lush wines that Charles Hendricks made, nor does it drink well early.

The fruit is ripe, bright; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries, dark chocolate, loads of caramel, more retrained wood than their Cabernet, dry tobacco, dry brush, cinnamon, nutmeg, unstated spice, vanilla, dark berry cola, dark Belgium chocolate, anise to black candied licorice, moist clay, dry herbs, dry river stone, dry top soils, minty as it sets, still very primary, candied; dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets, the acidity nice but the finish needs integration & evolution badly. Shows some promise in another 5 years. — 10 months ago