Caraccioli Cellars

Brut Cuvée Santa Lucia Highlands Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2014

9.4

A top notch vintage California sparkler. Fine bubbles, soft lees, nice minerality, with hints of citrus - the drinking experience builds to a sizzling acid finish. Take the two best grapes out of SLH and make a cremant style sparkler. Brilliant. — 6 years ago

with Claire and Susan

James liked this

Talbott

Estate Grown Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

Michelle Vanhoose

8.9

Soft tannins, floral nose, pretty wine. This would be a daily drinker for me. — 7 years ago

with Rico

Lucienne

Smith Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

Robert A. Manchester IV

9.1

Stands out with its finish. Fruit forward nose that tails into lingering notes. — 8 years ago

Lucia Vineyards (Pisoni)

Susan's Hill Syrah 2007

Nestor Gonzalez

9.2

This wine proves the Pisoni's vision — 10 years ago

Scorewine and Riddley liked this

Roar

Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013

Oscar Ortiz

9.5

Young but what a delicious mouthful, with rich layers of fruit but elegant and smooth — 11 years ago

Dirty & Rowdy

Especial Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard Mourvèdre 2013

Max Gottesfeld, FWS, CSW

9.3

Smelled like red apple skins, and smashed raspberries. Foggy color light and delicate if I lived in California I'd drink this all the time. It's just too pricey for me on the east coast. — 11 years ago

Anthony liked this

August West

Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010

Panja NAOE

9.0

20130518赤16000円ロウリーズcocoBDP — 13 years ago

Hope & Grace

Doctor's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I kid you not, Charles Hendricks is likely the most underrated & under known Winemaker in Napa Valley.

If you have not had his wines, you are missing out on great wines & relative real value for Napa. He makes his own private higher end label-Hendricks, Hope & Grace and midway through the 14 vintage for; James Cole, Regusci & T-Vine.

There are few Winemakers that can make wines that drink well young & some that will age two decades plus stored correctly.

This Santa Lucia Doctor’s Vineyard is really good but, his private label Hendricks Pinot from Santa Lucia is off the charts. His 2008 Hendricks Pinot Noir is the highest rating I have ever given a Ca Pinot Noir, 98.

The 13 Doctor’s Vineyard is better than his 12 & is still a little early right now. It will improve over the next 5 years & hold there a couple of years before its gentle decline.

The nose reveals, ripe, well extracted & slightly baked; blackberries, stewed, deep, dark, black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, dry pomegranate & cranberries with shades of blueberries. Dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, touch of savory meats, anise to black licorice, black tea, wet clay, steeped black tea, touch of herbs dominated with Rosemary, rich, black, earth, dry stones, dry crushed rocks, fresh tobacco, leather notes, volcanic minerals, limestone with bright, fresh & withering florals that are; dark, red, purple, blue mixed in violets and lavender.

The body is full, rich, lush and gorgeous. The structure, tension, length and balance are just hitting their good phase. It is simply a beautiful & complex Pinot Noir. Nicely extracted & slightly baked; blackberries, stewed, deep, dark, black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, dry pomegranate & cranberries with more blueberries than the nose. Dark spices that bring palate heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, touch of savory meats, peppery notes, anise to black licorice, black tea, wet clay, steeped black tea, touch of herbs dominated with Rosemary, rich, black, earth, dry stones, dry crushed rocks, fresh tobacco, leather notes, volcanic minerals, limestone with bright, fresh & withering florals that are; dark, red, purple, blue mixed in violets and lavender. The acidity is very good & excellent at containing the slightly higher ABV. The long, complex finish is, well balanced fruit & earth, polished and will persist until dawn.

Photos of; Their Doctor’s Vineyard, one of my favorite paintings that used to hang behind the bar in their tasting room & now hangs in Charles’ house (it reminds me of a Jackson Pollock), Winemaker-Charles Hendricks and the front of their tasting room in downtown Yountville.
— 6 years ago