Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

As a Sommelier, it’s interesting to read professional reviews. Something you need to keep up on for what consumers will be looking to buy.

As someone who attends a lot of tastings, you get to get to do your own comparisons. For me, a lot of Bordeaux. It’s my true love. I’ve been to Bordeaux eleven times. Two of them En Premiers.

When I tasted this so called critically difficult/bad vintage from Chateau Belle-Vue, I saw its potential and wasn’t wrong. Now, eleven years later, this wine is singing. While the critics haven’t tasted this wine as recently as this year, they would tell you this wine was average. It is anything but! If I put this wine in a blind tasting, I am confident many would call higher end Napa Cabernet and this is a Bordeaux producer from an ancillary region, under the radar known producer and a difficult vintage.

If I’ve learned anything about wine, it’s in all difficult vintages anywhere, there are producers who still make good wine. This one is magic for around $20 upon release. I’ve had $100 a bottle plus Bordeaux and Napa Cabernet that weren’t this good.

The nose shows, ripe, earthy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, creamy raspberries on the glass edges, some blueberries & boysenberries and baked plum. Rich, forest floor, steeped black tea, used coffee grounds, limestone minerals, crushed, dry, rock powder, black licorice, hints of herbaceous notes, touch of mushroom, purple flowers, violets and faint lavender.

The body is full, round and lush. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious. The tannins are dark, round, soft, velvety and slightly tarry. Ripe, earthy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, creamy raspberries on the glass edges, some blueberries & boysenberries and baked plum. Rich, forest floor, steeped black tea, used coffee grounds, tarry notes, limestone minerals, crushed, dry, rock powder, dry top soil & clay, black licorice, dark cocoa powder, cinnamon, dark spice, some vanilla, hints of herbaceous notes, touch of mushroom, graphite, burnt charcoal, suede leather, pipe tobacco, purple flowers, violets, dark red florals and faint lavender. The acidy round & beautiful. The finish is; ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced between fruit & earth and persistent for minutes.

The well know professional critics would tell you this wine is old or late. I will tell you, from my storage, it’s has another 7-10 years of life ahead of it.

Have it with a good butchered Ribeye (not store bought) seasoned with coarse ground garlic salt & pepper.

Photos of, a modest Chateau Belle-Vue, the beautiful backside of the chateau, barrel cellar and Estate vines.
— 8 years ago

Tim Sullivan

9.3

Magnificent. Honey and amber. Paired or on its own, it’s sure to please your palate. — 9 years ago

Brian Armenio

9.3

La Rioja Alta wines are world class and put Tempranillo in a class all its own. Bellota and Gran Reserva make for an unreal dining experience during the holidays in San Francisco. — 9 years ago

Riccardo L.

9.3

Don't make this your tenth drink of the night, it's not fair to anyone. SOBER EDIT: tried this again after a beast of an Amarone and prefer this. Something about that old world, rustic, dry lingering flavoring suggests authenticity in the face of all these showy fruit and sugar forward overpriced glamour bombs. We have a great wine here. Perhaps still not as impressive as it could be, but a great wine nonetheless. — 9 years ago

David Wiegel

9.3

Layered and wildly complex. Wonderful high tone red fruits, bright red cherry, raspberry, red plum....really amazing herbaceousness plays off the fruit....all sorts of spice and earth came out over 3 hours. Hugely fresh and juicy even after some years in the bottle....these guys make some freaky cool wines...this one will age and developed for a LONG time yet.....one of those wines you keep going back to and with so much cut and freshness each new taste just sits your palette which is fantastic! — 10 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.2

Truly the name of the wine says it all. Drank the whole thing in an hour of paddling around a lake in a swan on a beautiful day in Copenhagen. It's not worth giving a description of the wine as I continuously find that in the concept of set and setting sometimes wines are just the magic wand in the middle of a beautiful storm. If you make this your wine, make it a great moment, it's worth it. — 10 years ago

with Taylor

Jacob Riley

8.9

Inky and savory on first taste but don't let it's bitter cloak fool you. Rose, violet, raspberry, blackberry, black plum. Savory herbs, oregano and bay leaf. Tannins that make your teeth fuzzy but alcohol that leaves a pleasant warmth like tawny port. Natural, yes. Drinkable, yes. Party wine par excellence. Pair with unrequited lust. — 11 years ago

Shane M. Nicholson

9.0

Listen......Malbec , for all its gratuitous idiosyncratic ways, should celebrate its pleasurable simplicities. Why hide the fact that you have a hot body and make young men weak in the knees?! Valle Escondido. One of the hidden treasures of Mendoza. One of the highest elevated vineyards in the DO. This is a friggin steal!! $9.99 are you outaa your mind?! Yes.......You're welcome — 11 years ago

Kevin Walsh

Wine blogger doxologywine.com; Freelance Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers) Doxology Wine Consulting

9.2

This is good stuff. Enough acid to make your lips sting. — 11 years ago

Noah Carlson

9.1

Noah had this 12 years ago

Deirdre Heekin

Owner/Wine Director Osteria Pane e Salute

9.6

Is it fair to add your own wine? '10 vintage from our wine library. Orange blossom, pineapple, lime, cream, white pepper. Constantly changing. Still bright acidity. #lotsofagingpotential — 14 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This wine is made by Dan Standish who started his career by traveling all over the world learning the skill of winemaking. He returned to Australia to make wine at Torbreck. After making Torbreck, he starting his own project. This wine is produced from a vineyard with 100 year old vines with a yield of only a 1/2 ton on fruit per acre. In comparison to quality Napa producers, their yields are 2-3 tons per acre. Dan is absolutely one of the very best producers in Barossa.

On the nose, mulberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, lavender and violets.

The body is full, rich, ruby, lush and very inky. The texture is elegantly sexy. The 06 is still youthful & fresh. It still needs more time but, it’s delicious tonight. The length, tension, structure and balance are just coming into it own. mulberries, Olallieberries, Boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, raisins, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, purple flowers, lavender and violets. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, thick, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced with deep heat penetrating dark spices that rise off the palate and lasts several minutes. The 06 is still 5 years from it peak.

Photos of; The Standish Cellar Door, Owner/Winemaker Dan Standish, beautiful Barossa Vineyards and the old tasting room — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I’ve had at least two cases of the 97 over the last eight years or more. Our friends Jeff & Hedy brought this bottle of 97 to dinner tonight. It’s the best bottle of this wine I’ve had. We drank our last bottle roughly two years ago. The wine continues to improve. Tonight it’s so lush, ruby, elegant with blue & dark & mid red fruits. Great balance of fruit & earth. So beautiful & easy to drink. The 97 vintage was one no one wanted to buy as it was critically panned. I have said this many times, “in every difficult vintage, there are always producers that make good wine.” In the case of the Potensac, it took 15+ years to fully spread its wings and it continues to improve with another 10 years left ahead. No critic would have told you in 98 & 99 when the initial reviews came out to buy this wine. Potensac is made by the same technical team as Leoville Las Cases. Always follow good producers, even in difficult years. K&L bought 5,000 cases of this wine 10+ years after the fact. They are Masters in Bordeaux wines for this kind of value. Clyde took the shipments in two blocks of 2500 cases and sold through them in about a year or less at $24.99 a bottle. It remains the bargain of a lifetime! @Shay A This is the wine you want to buy to keep you from opening your 09’s & 10’s too early. So delicious tonight!!! Photos of; Potensac, concrete tanks, fruit near harvest and their barrel room. — 9 years ago

Robert McCall

9.3

This is one of those where the aromas make your eyebrows raise, in a good way. Elegant nose of cherries, spice, rose petal. Strangely Pinot-like. Palate wise it’s all Cab Sauv offering up dark berry/cherry, licorice, baking spice, and an herbal note. Soft tannins rounds it out. Made from some of the finest vineyards in the state, one to seek out for sure. QPR in check as well. — 9 years ago

Luke Higgins

9.3

Just coming into its own now, but as a lover of Chablis and Chardonnay with verve this is awesome right now. White peach and stone fruit, subtle oak and malo allowing the fruit to make the statement and the mineral backbone drive it home. Classy. — 9 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.8

Wow. This is just a beautiful wine. First time having this and I get the hype now. It's not over the top, everything is in balance and it is just stunning. Aromas of licorice, cassis and blackberries hit the nose and make you want to just keep sniffing. The entry is long, layered and full flavored with blackberries, cherries, chocolate and vanilla. The tannins are soft (decanted for nearly three hours) and there is a nice acidity present on the finish. This went well on its own and with food (rib roast). An incredible wine. Can't wait to try the '13! — 10 years ago

Whitney H

9.0

Make your taste buds lift some weights before trying to taste this big bad boy. Heavy, complex. Effervescence on the tongue gives way to butterscotch, fig, black cherry. — 10 years ago

Alex Alan

Wine Director Hotel Delmano

9.3

2011. Dammit Kermit...get your name off the front of the bottle! You can read your name more clearly than Foillard - and they actually MAKE the wine. Your back label is plenty and I still love the wines you represent. But seriously, this has gone too far for long enough. PS...Foillard rules! — 11 years ago

Mario Recchia

8.9

Nice blend of Zin from a always reliable and reasonably priced winery. Some initial berry and medium body make it a good pairing with pizza or Italian food. 2012 was an excellent year so go get a bottle at your local wine store. — 11 years ago

Ryan Mullins

9.5

The most approachable GC Chablis I've tasted from 2013. Big and rich with creeping high acid that comes back to make your mouth water a minute later #atg — 11 years ago

L Bennion

9.6

Gorgeous tasting room (cave), bring your own food! — 13 years ago

Holly Orchard

Certified Sommelier, President of Savvy Cellar Wines Inc.

9.3

Drinking beautifully right now... so much damp earthiness and leather, stewed mushrooms, soft tannins. Still a surprising amount of juicy dark fruit to make it a wonderful food wine. Let this one sit in your glass for a bit or gently decant to let it show all of its personality. It paired perfectly with Coq au Vin and toasted bread. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

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. — 8 years ago

Sarah Oettel

8.9

Different notes than the 2015 for sure--slight notes of stinky (Portuguese?), runny cheese instead of just the red fruit. Constantly adjusting and coming into its own as you work your way through the bottle. — 9 years ago

Jessica Hereth

Sommelier/Wine Director Olympic Provisions

9.2

So go and live a little
Bone turns brittle
And skin withers before your eyes
Make sure you give a little
Before you go to the great unknown in the sky — 9 years ago

Dr Snake MD

9.7

Imagine aged plums and white cherries blowing a hole through the back of your skull like a 12 gauge. That only partially captures the experience of this amarone on the nose. Medium minus acidity and gentle tannins make this quaffable, yet still deserving of a considered reflection. High quality producer, corked. — 10 years ago

with Mr. and Ben

Shana Wall

9.3

#2006 #ScreamingEagle My 1st time tasting this #CultWine & I think it's appropriately named. #Screaming with... Alcohol, Tannins, black & blue fruit, cassis & oak... As if the Eagle swooped down and knocked you over to grab the bottle from your hands. Dark Black/Purple in color. Smokey, brooding, intense. Tobacco, coffee, A definite Food Wine. Not to be taken lightly or sipped on its own. A powerhouse that would benefit from many, many more years in the cellar. Exciting & dangerous like an Eagle... Not for the timid of heart. Don't mess with this chick... She'll take you down! Definitely benefits from decanting. In #2006 #SexyBack by #JustinTimberlake is tipping the charts along with #YoureBeautiful by #JamesBlunt as is #GoldDigger by #KanyeWest & #JamieFoxx .... And I must say... You may need to be a Gold Digger in order to get your hands on this bottle of wine! ;). #Cheers #HappyMonday #ThinkWhileYouDrink #Wino 🍷😎 — 10 years ago

Lori Ebenkamp

10

These little cartons are great for road trips. One equals three 5.6 ounce glasses so OBVS for a 6 hour trip you're gonna need steady two cartons to make it through listening to your husbands screemo XM radio station. He drives. Duh. But really this wine is good; i don't know what legs are in relation to wine but if I did I'd tell you how they were. It's pretty dry, and has a heavy dark fruity flavor. Kelly Flynn I know you're laughing while reading this so you should just go get you one. — 11 years ago

Rick Wolfen

9.9

Wow!! Chris Maybach and Thomas brown make some unreal wine! I would put Maybach up against the best from Napa. This is a wine that will blow you away. Huge fruit, but with extraordinary depth and balance and a finish that goes on and on! For a younger wine it is drinking so well! This is one to put on your bucket list! — 11 years ago

Jonathan S

9.2

This 2003 vintage offers a genuine Knights valley Cabernet Sauvignon at 13.8% alc by Hawkes vineyard in Healdsburg, California. Aromas and palate of plum, red ripe field berries, medium tannins and acidity, baking spices, caramel butterscotch and well integrated tannins with the fruit. This full bodied wine is approachable in its own and also pairs well with lasagna, steak frites or your favourite dish. — 12 years ago