Joshua Fisher

9.3

To live in the valley is to have a winemaker as your neighbor who gifts you wine from his personal cellar and in times of great need, hand it over the fence to you! Thank you Todd Graff !
— 4 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.5

I am definitely putting out on the fence the Rockford flag🤣🤣
This is so nice
Still extraordinary fragrant fruit decorated with liquorice
Super long
Young
It doesn’t leave your palate
Key points: focused intensity in the nose and persistence that never ends 🙏🙏🙏 — 6 years ago

with Mauro

Kate Clason

10

This is what you want to be drinking at the end of April. Not too meaty, great berry fruit. A little bit of funk but funk off. Tastes like fruit leather. If you’re on the fence of white or red. Also choose rose. — 6 years ago

Craig Williams

9.0

I'm on the fence so to speak on Brut Nature Champagnes. This was good but remained a touch tart/sour. I think this style depends on not only maturity @ harvest but completion of malo-lactic fermentation. — 7 years ago

Maxwell Burns

Hospitality Kenwood Vineyards, Winemaker GARA

9.0

On the fence. Obviously opened to early. The acidity is unreal. — 7 years ago

Sean McCann

9.1

A savory Chardonnay with a slightly sweet initial taste, and strong savory finish reminiscent of smoked meat. Definitely a bifurcation flavor profile, though I found it quite enjoyable. — 8 years ago

Big Bob Dillon aka G-Somm

9.0

Rich and over the top, I'm on fence with this one — 8 years ago

Michael Pisano

9.1

Got from the Connecticut wine store around $15 — 8 years ago

William Paley

9.2

Cassis and the promise of largeness on the nose. A mouthful of blackberries and black current compote, iodine and an unusual saltiness, some damp earth fades to vanilla-tinged vintage portiness that I’m on the fence about. Probably a carnivore’s delight, otherwise not food friendly, but that’s ok. Contemplation worthy - esp. if of the navel. — 4 years ago

with Jess

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I really enjoy pairing wine with food. One thing I like to do when I work events like these is to offer guests wine that has achieved its perfect bottle phase and this didn’t disappoint. So often you go to a restaurant or an event and all they offer are new releases or close enough. Wine needs time in bottle to shine. This one was at its peak and for many guests was the wine of the night. I’d have trouble disagreeing with that.

Wine was seamless and elegant. Ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark cherries, some blackberries, plum and soft florals blueberries on the edge of the glass. Great acidity and round long finish. This was better than some $100 plus bottles of Pinot’s I’ve had for a faction of the price. It walks the fence of CA Pinot & Burgundy nicely.

The dish paired perfectly with Hedy’s, Fresh Summer Beans, Pumpernickel Crouton, Yogurt Dressing, Chive, Preserved Lemon. The perfect age on the Cahill married beautifully with the dish and excellent on its own. The food did not overpower the dish, nor did the dish overpower the wine.

The 08 Cahill was a recent direct purchase from the winery through K&L Wine Merchants. It was like stealing, it was priced so inexpensively.

Walter Hansel made his fortune in the auto business; which allowed him to pursue his other passion in wine. He and his son’s first vintage was 1996. They are located near Kistler and Dehlinger in Sonoma. The Cahill is made from a blend of three clones; 114, 115 and Rochioli.

One interesting fun fact. Walter Hansel was among the first people to drive a car into the Yosemite Valley in the early 1900’s.

Hedy on FB @Plate&Bottle — 6 years ago

Mike R

9.1

Ok first time tango with this beast - had some heat - let it breathe for 2 hours and opening up - not sure I am believer but two other times I had a higher version of their cab Shiraz I liked it - this time I am on the fence - give you this much - it can pack a fruit bomb punch - so got my Wednesday smiles going on — 7 years ago

Sam Stoppelmoor

9.0

Good start to the NYC trip — 8 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.4

Beautiful garnet color in the glass. Light nodes of dark fruit, rose petals and spices on the nose. Elegant tastes of blueberries, dark cherries, cinnamon and a little star anise on the finish. A very nicely structured wine with sleek tannins and just the right acidity. The Cabernet grapes for this wine come from a great area of Oakville as they stared at Screaming Eagle's grapes growing just across the fence line. One of my favorite small, family owned wineries in Napa. — 8 years ago

with Lisa

Simon Gilligan

9.0

Interesting - grenache flavours but with a herbal/green infusion that you might like or not. I’m a bit on the fence. Savoury finish, not candied, fresh but back to back with the Yangarra old vine Grenache ($28 Yangarra vs $20 Cirillo street price), great prices, both quality but I’ll go the Yangarra. — 6 years ago

David Kline

9.2

I know now this needs more time to integrate, but it’s down-soft in the background, so difficult to see a balanced future. Warm plum and black berry-currant, cranberry stuffing, rich chocolate, sherry trifle, all loosely sprinkled with fine graphite. Steamy jungle flora notes merge with hemp stem and black cherry skins. Hard chocolate entry bringing dried blackberry and even drier black cherry stripped naked in a sauna of chamomile and phantom eucalyptus outlines describing a swarthy shadow through steam. A recent denizen of the cedar benches, puffing sweet tobaccos? There is subtle power at play despite the fruit-forward leanings. I was initially on the fence with this. This one is enigmatic with a nod to Napa in the 1970s. #Napa #Walton #cab #cabernet #cabsauv4life #cabsav #california #egelhoff #EgelhoffWalton #Bobegelhoff #egelhoffwines #StHelena #sthelenacab — 6 years ago

with Courtney

Michael Seely

9.0

2008. Delightful — 6 years ago

with Joe

Justin Brilman

9.1

Can't argue the fruit isn't good. Shares a fence line with Screagle... — 7 years ago

LM Segal

9.3

There's no sitting on the fence for Occhipintis...such a distinctive, exotic expression like nothing else, least of all Nero d'Avola. Nose is tobacco and mushroom, earthy. Then comes dark cherry, black stewed fruit and pipe tobacco, at the same time so big and so light. Fine, light tannins. Like old CdP. Arianna Occhipinti is this cork dork's Rock Star! — 7 years ago

Nate Miles

9.1

Like drinking an electric fence. This thing is alive and ready to take you down. An exciting wine. Still raging on Day 3. — 8 years ago

Chad Brewer

9.0

Lean like a fence — 8 years ago