Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Merry Christmas 2025! 🎅🎄🎁 🍷 ❄️ ⛄️

As I have said, Charles Hendricks is my favorite new world winemaker for Malbec. This 12 is perfect with chocolate truffles.

Many would not get this blind. They would call Napa Cabernet or Napa Bordeaux blend.

It is around its precipice. Ripe, juicy, lush fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, strawberries, blueberries, mocha powder, dark chocolate to chocolate mousse, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, dry top soil, moist to dry clays, tumbleweed, some light dry herbs, chard barrel shavings, dark spices, black tea, black licorice, dark cola, dry, crushed limestone/rocks, leather, dry tobacco, dark, withering flowers, liquid violets-lavender, grand, round, acidity, well; balanced, structured, tensioned with a polished/elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on spice & dry earthiness. — 8 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I have said many times that when Charles Hendricks made James Cole from 2013 backwards, amazing.

Charles is the most under known & therefore unappreciated Napa Winemaker on the planet from my perspective.

So, when a bunch of his JC vintages appeared on the secondary market, I bought them all. They are very rare these days.

2013 an excellent vintage, small berries with excellent concentration. When I picked up the cork from the table at the restaurant, it was turned away from me. When I looked at my hand, it was heavily painted with tannins. In a way I have seldom experienced. It was so, I could have easily painted my war face. — 4 months ago

Raun Kupiec

9.2

Delicious! A proper Nebbiolo with power and grace. Definitely needed some air time to open up, at least a half hour but better after an hour. — 4 months ago

with Barbara

Daniel Bloom

9.4

Outrageous! Even in the flood of thanksgiving wines, this stood head and shoulders above the din. Selfishly, I’m glad only 3-4 of us were partakers. By far, one of , if not the very best U.S. Pinot Noir in my experience. Wonderful nose and balance in all things.
We shall have to wait for a non-holiday quaff for greater exposition.
Thanks @FassSelections — a month ago

with Sarah

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

This wine is in a perfect place. 2008 is not as regarded as 2007, but this 2008 made by Charles Hendricks is saying differently & absolutely one of his very best. I would say, James & Coleen made a mistake in letting him get away.

It is sort of a Mother Mary of God wine. Not to be religious, just the phrase fits.

Our eyes & ears perk up when we hear Napa names like; Harlan, Scarecrow, Hundred Acre, Bond & Colgin. I’d like to put this in blind and watch the shock & awe in everyone eyes when the wines were revealed.

The palate entry is perfect in every way. It is rich, lush, extremely balanced with well rounded, velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries, baked strawberries framed in raspberry edges. Some of the most amazing, dark spices with palate heat, melted, dark chocolate to pudding, black licorice to anise, mocha, malt balls, caramel, mid baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, fresh & used tobacco, leathery, graphite, crushed rocks & limestone, sage brush, slightly, candied, dark & withering flowers set in understated violet’s & lavender, warm, summer, rainfall acidity, balance for days, excellent structure/tension with elegance and smart polish that lasts minutes and settles on beautiful spices.

This wine is at its precipice and will hold a few more years with good drinking for 8-10 years. — 4 months ago

Steve Somermeyer

9.3

Really a great wine at this point in its point in life. A sister bottle tasted 2 years ago was rather rough on the palate. The tannins have softened while the elegant nose is still there. Really enjoying this bottle! Cheers!
— 5 months ago

Stephen Mathews

9.3

17% alc is pushing it; even for me lol — 4 hours ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red fruits with wild flowers, tobacco, eucalyptus, light earth, licorice, light oak, spices and herbs.

Medium plus in body and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with red cherries, currants, plums, licorice, light oak, spices, chocolates, red candy, tobacco leaf, light earth, herbs and light black tea.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is still very young and needs some bottle time to mature properly, but already drinking beautifully.

Rich, yet elegant. Fruit forward, Nicely balanced and easy drinking. Spicy and entertaining.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Showing good potential to become a 94 point wine.

Showing lots of red fruits, especially on the nose, which surprised me a bit. A different style of Napa Cabernet, and very unique.

Needed 3 hours in the decanter to open up. Complex and engaging.

A good sipping wine that will pair nicely with food too.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 30 months in (80% new) French Oak barrels. A small production of 7,200 bottles.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$230. — 2 months ago

Shanna Goadner

10

Very smooth! Great flavor. — 4 months ago

Shay A

9.4

One of the bottles from my annual WWC hosting, opened alongside a 2020 Chateau Beaucastel Blanc.

46% Grenache Blanc/31% roussanne/23% Chenin Blanc.

More expressive and dialed up compared to the Beaucastel (not a big surprise). Medium gold in the glass. Bright and juicy roussanne notes of orange marmalade and apricot, alongside white peaches and a powder-sugar funnel-cake type aromatic. The Chenin gives this a good spine of acidity to prevent the rich and full-bodied entry from being flabby. Honey-roasted nuts, honeycomb, lemon cream, underripe pineapple and a savory/waxy finish. The warmth comes out at the finish, but it’s not substantial. Really nice with 1-2hrs of air. — 8 months ago