Long Meadow Ranch

Bedrock Wine Co.

Pagani Ranch Heritage Sonoma Valley Red Blend 2021

The 2021 is sadly the last Pagani Bedrock will make. Just released, it’s pitch dark but full of vibrant fruit and zippy acidity. For a field blend heavy on Zinfandel, the young version has some pinot like qualities. I’m putting the rest of the allocation away for as long as I can hold out, ideally 10+ years. UPDATE 11/24: I held out for two years before going back in and it’s a changed wine — darker red fruits, plum, cocoa still with an acid zing and tannins for structure. — 3 years ago

Kale Wines

Kick Ranch Vineyards Home Run Cuvée Grenache Blend 2013

Ming L
9.3

The 2010 Esprit de Beaucastel from Tablas Creek was a tough act to follow, but this elegant Rhône blend from Sonoma just did that.

The nose was quite similar with aroma of blue fruits and earthy elements with hint of violet, it was the palate that set it apart: soft, complex and deep, with great texture and beautiful acidity that adds the tension. Elegant and seamless.

Kale Anderson was the long time wine maker at Pahlmeyer, and Kale wines are all vineyard-specific. Worth seeking out.
— 6 years ago

Somm liked this

Long Meadow Ranch

Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Blackberry, raspberry, cassis, cherry, vanilla, chocolate and oak. Good structure and soft tannins. — 6 years ago

The Calling Wines

Dutton Ranch Chardonnay 2015

Lemon, lime, melon, and toasty oak flavors. Fuller bodied. The finish is LONG. Got for $23, which was a steal, but I wouldn’t buy if more than that. There are better quality wines that cost less. A WS Top 100. — 7 years ago

Steve liked this

Snowden

The Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Dark ruby violet. Blackberry, graphite, and a slight herbal note on the nose. Dense and concentrated red and black fruits on the palate with prominent, chunky tannins and long, gravelly finish. Blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot fermented with native yeasts then aged 19 months in 50% new French oak. Made by Diana Snowden wife of Jeremy Seysses of Domaine Dujac in Burgundy. Would undoubtedly benefit from more time in the bottle. 14.5% ABV. $50. — 7 years ago

Kelly Shikoh
with Kelly
Shay liked this

Whetstone Wine Cellars

Phoenix Ranch Vineyard Syrah 2013

Massive bold dark fruit. Huge tar, cedar and cigar box bouquet. Dark, luscious and complex. Long legs and incredibly long huge mouthfeel and finish. — 8 years ago

PJ MirvissSonia JonczykBrad Skeel
with PJ, Sonia and 3 others
Kirk, Shay and 5 others liked this

Long Meadow Ranch

Farmstead Napa Valley Chardonnay 2015

Different Chardonnay, lime and citrus notes — 8 years ago

Dirty & Rowdy

Shake Ridge Ranch Mourvedre

yes, this is a photo of a computer image. tasted as part of a Mourvèdre wine group tasting via zoom, wines portioned into woozies. 2018v. super aromatic, raspberry/cranberry juice, fresh leather, violet. palate texture is silky, light but complex and flavorful, acid medium +, long tannins- just a bit of grip. fantastic — 4 years ago

Shay liked this

Neyers

Neyers Ranch - Conn Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

From magnum. Black cherry, dark chocolate, tobacco. Firm, supportive tannins. Has a long time to go. — 5 years ago

Shay, Andrew and 3 others liked this

Soter Vineyards

Mineral Springs Ranch Pinot Noir 2016

Delectable Wine
9.4

Glistening magenta. Displays expansive, spice- and mineral-accented red/dark berry preserve scents that take on incense and lavender flourishes with air. Juicy, seamless and energetic on the palate, offering densely packed black raspberry, cherry liqueur and exotic spice flavors that show sharp delineation and back-end thrust. Finishes impressively long and smooth, with resonating red fruit, floral notes and velvety, harmonious tannins that make a cameo appearance. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, June 2019) — 6 years ago

P liked this

Diamond Creek Vineyards

Gravelly Meadow Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Sam T
9.3

Awesome but needs a few more years. This one will hold up for the long haul! — 7 years ago

Brandon liked this

Hendricks Wines

Gold Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Somm David T
9.3

On the nose, ripe, ruby, fruits of; mulberry, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, black cherries, blueberries & creamy raspberries. Vanilla, hints of sweet tarriness, black licorice, whiff of spice, soft understated limestone minerals & crushed rock powder, fruity black tea, hint of fresh herbaceousness, rich, black turned earth, fresh dark floral bouquet and fields of lavender & violets.

The body is rich, ripe & full. The tannins are a little sticky but well softened, round and a touch chewy. The structure, tension, length, balance, tension and balance are very close to perfect and harmonious. Fruits are; mulberry, huckleberry, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, black cherries & creamy raspberries. Vanilla, hints of sweet tarriness, black licorice, whiff of spice, soft understated limestone minerals & crushed rock powder, fruity black tea, hint of fresh herbaceousness, rich, black turned earth, fresh dark floral bouquet and fields of lavender & violets. The acidity is round and rains like a waterfall perfectly over the palate. The very long, ruby, rich, well balance lasts minutes and is absolutely heavenly. Gorgeous, elegant, stunning wine.

Photos of; the vertical tasting we attended of all Hendricks Cabernets; 04, 05, 09 & 12 at the time w/ one of our favorite paintings in the background, Charles Hendricks working in the cellar, very old rootstock from the Stag’s Leap Vineyard where the fruit to make this wine normally comes from and a wide shot of the Stag’s Leap Vineyard.

Producer notes and history...Hendricks Cabernet Sauvignon is consistently sourced from a few of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards. In those near perfect vintages, Charles only makes a small production wine of around 250-300 cases. Charles only produces it when he has exception fruit. He’s made Hendricks Cabernet in; 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012 & 2014. Notice he didn’t make Hendricks Cabernet in a great vintage year like 2013. He wasn’t happy enough with his fruit in 2013 to put his name on it. That says a lot and maybe all you need to know about his standard for quality. I do know what wine his 13 fruit made as I’ve had and it’s an unbelievable wine for far less money.

Charles also makes a fantastic Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands that is really quite amazing. Especially, if you give it 5 or 6 years in bottle. All his wines are sold exclusively through the Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville as he is also the Hope & Grace Winemaker.

Charles graduated in 1982 from UC Davis in viticulture. He was also able to tailor his own curriculum and was one of the earliest to integrate winemaking and viticulture course work. Having knowledge of both viticulture and enology forms the basis for his well-rounded winemaking.

Over the years Charles has worked in both Napa and Sonoma Counties, gaining hands on experience in all aspects of winemaking. He has a strong reputation for excellence. In his career, he’s been a consulting winemaker for many wineries; Viader, Barnett Vineyards, Paoletti Vineyards, Regusci Winery, James Cole, T-Vine and Tamayo family Vineyard.

I asked Charles, “how does he make wines that are amazingly good in their youth but will age effortlessly for 15-20 years?” His answer was simply this, “its not that hard, you just have to know the perfect time to harvest fruit.” I would agree with that to a degree. But, you also have to know how to gently guide fruit onto it’s path into the barrel and not get in the wine’s way or overwork the process.
— 7 years ago

Jason, Eric and 24 others liked this
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

Thanks. Will bury it. The Hendricks SLH Pinot was AMAZING.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Kim Stanbro My second favorite painting that used to be in the Hope & Grace tasting room. Charles took it to his house. 😕
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Great review

Pax Mahle Wines

Castelli-Knight Ranch Syrah 2018

Mixed pepper, mixed red and black fruit. Was tart to open and then evolved beautifully. This will age! Rated 2016 last night 2018 tonight (feb)... Update, (2nd bottle of 2018, now late may): Those tart aromatics are piercing, rose water, lavender. It’s an intense wine. Medium bodied with light tannins. Very little oak influence. I think the cranberry and subtle white pepper will age and this wine will be nice for a long time. — 4 years ago

Romain, Mike and 1 other liked this

Williams Selyem

Burt Williams' Morning Dew Ranch Pinot Noir 2016

I don’t like to hold on to my pinots for TOO long!! — 6 years ago

Shay liked this

Long Meadow Ranch

Mayacamas Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 2014

This is a fantastic wine that is definitely underrated — 6 years ago

Rosita L
with Rosita
Paul liked this

Quivet Cellars

Kenefick Ranch Napa Valley Syrah 2013

My Quivet syrahs don’t usually make it long enough to have this kind of bottle age, but I may need to hold a few back going forward. Tremendous effort here and an easy 3-5 years ahead of it. — 6 years ago

Sam TJRM
with Sam and JRM
Sam, Shay and 7 others liked this

Lazy Susan Ranch

Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Greg Ballington
9.1

Mix of garnet and ruby red. Mature nose with truffles, plums, cocoa, spices and cassis. Integrated tannins (6/10) and medium plus body. Smooth and integrated palate with cocoa, raspberries, black fruit, herbal and a little bit of minerality. Medium plus to long finish. Drink till 2020. — 7 years ago

Sean BallingtonIndia Okoh
with Sean and India
Ted, P and 13 others liked this

Long Meadow Ranch

Farmstead Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

The best of a few Cabs I had that day. — 8 years ago

Nickel & Nickel

State Ranch Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

balanced. elegant. ripe, clean, complex, not jammy, long acid and tannins. nothing out of proportion here. — 8 years ago

Hayfork

Lewelling Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Really nice and enjoyable ! Rich plum and chocolate on the nose, also full of fruit and it's also present in the body of the wine! great integrated tannins long finish good juice! — 9 years ago

Rochelle, Eric and 7 others liked this
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

I tend to lean towards the poor plum, rich plump just has a strange taste to me,
Rochelle

Rochelle

@Paul T your the best😁