Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

I have mentioned my admiration for this producer when Charles Hendricks was their Winemaker through 2013. 2013 is a great Napa vintage for a swan song. My last Regusci post was their Patriarch and is my second favorite Regusci vineyard. Angelo’s, I mentioned was my favorite and this didn’t disappoint.

Not many well stored Angelo’s or Patriarch Regusci’s made by Charles left on the secondary market. This one was well stored with next to no wine running down the cork.

The nose is inviting. Ripe, ruby fruits of, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, strawberries, raspberries & cherries. Dark chocolate to pudding, anise, malted milk balls, mid berry to red cola, beautiful, nicely layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, moist sage, black olive, dry stem & top soils, baking powder, tree bark with red & dark florals for days.

The tannins are still M+ but rounded & velvety. Ripe, ruby fruits of, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, strawberries, raspberries & cherries. Dark chocolate cake to pudding, anise, malted milk balls, mid berry to red cola, dark, fruit liqueur notes beautiful, nicely layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, moist sage, black olive, dry stem & top soils, limestone, dry crushed rocks, baking powder, tree bark, dark, pronounced spice w/ heat, dryish tobacco w/ ash, leather, lead pencil with red & dark florals for days and liquid violets, beautiful acidity with tall structure/tension, great length & balance and elegance that lasts minutes and long sets on dry earth & spice.

Outstanding.Tasted many Napa Cabernets last weekend at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. Holds its own in all of them except the Harlan tasting; 94, 04, 07, 13, 16 & 20. Even Grace Family. — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The Regusci is darker than the Napa blend, heavier in the mouth and creamy. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries. Dark chocolate, cocoa powder, baking spices, dark spices, withering dark flowers, round acidity, larger structure, well tensioned, balanced, lush, elegant finish that last two minutes and falls on dry earthiness & spice.

@TRB wines tasting room St. Helena right on 29. — 8 months ago

Nathan Renfro

9.3

Very distinct cherry nose and primary fruit. Supple chalky tannins with big ripe cherries. Some earthiness but cherry dominant. Medium bodied, well structured, probably has a few more years left. Medium finish. — 3 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.2

fully sucks your palate in...fruits, tannins, — 2 months ago

Bryan Vogt

9.0

This is past peak and starting to fade. — 2 months ago

Kelley Raymond

9.0

A bit lighter than the cab sauv, but still good — 2 years ago

Steve S.

9.1

Pretty good but checkout my rating of the 2013. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2019 vintage. Drinking more like that Caterwaul stuff vs straight Regusci juice but whatevs. Acting up and showing/throwing medium juicy/fleshy w/o the SLD soft tannic boundaries/guidelines so far but needs both a time-out and a nap to reset. Block 1 is the problem child apparently. We'll see in a year. 4.12.23. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I will sound like a broken record, but this is a Charles Hendricks made wine. As I have stated, in my opinion, a very underestimated Napa Cabernet Winemaker.

Patriarch is my second favorite Regusci red wine made by him. The first is Angelo’s.

I love Napa & Bordeaux history. This family were farmers before they made wine. The farmstead cart pictured is their homage to that family history. You’ll see it every late summer as you walk up to their tasting room. Definitely buy some of their homegrown vegetables when there.

The nose reveals a dark core of currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin aplenty, plum to pudding, black cherries, baked strawberries, baked blueberries and circular raspberries, dark chocolate to cake, baking spices-cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, dark spice, mocha, caramel, dry leather, oldish tobacco, graphite, crush rocks/limestone, dry top soil, dark, red, withering flowers, red roses framed in lavender & violets.

The palate entry is round, ripe, lush fruits with rounded, velvety M+ dryish tannins. There is, like the nose, a dark core of currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin aplenty, plum to pudding, black cherries, baked strawberries, baked blueberries and circular raspberries, dark chocolate to cake, mocha powder, caramel, baking spices-cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, pronounced dark spice, anise to black licorice, mocha, caramel, dry leather, oldish tobacco, graphite, crush rocks/limestone/sandstone, dry, grey volcanic clay, dry herbs, dry top soil, mint notes, dark, red, withering flowers, red roses framed in lavender & violets, beautiful, round acidity, still has nice, evolved tension/structure, excellent balance with a flowing, elegant finish that last two-minutes and long sets on clays, earth and spice.

A coravined bottle and relaid in storage from last weekend. Cork perfect with plenty of sediment. Will hold another 2-3 yrs and drink well an additional 5-6 yrs. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I have posted on a number of occasions that Charles Hendricks is the most underrated Napa Winemaker. It happens in every world region. He made Regusci’s wines through 2013. The relationship ended midway through the 2014 vintage. Patriarch & Angelo’s are their best cuvées when he made them. 2013 an amazing vintage.

I scour the secondary markets for his James Cole and Regusci vintages. Recently, there were many and I bought them all. They are harder and harder to find. Becoming very rare.

This 2013 in fine shape. The cork perfect as is the state of the wine.

Charles’s magic is he makes wines that are elegant young and will age effortlessly & get better.

This 2013 is still in its ascending phrase and will drink well for another 5-10 yrs.

The entry is lush-juicy-ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum, poached-baked strawberries w/ hues of raspberries-blueberries-pomegranate. Dark chocolate to cake, mocha powder, caramel, mid berry cola, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg-cinnamon-vanillin, dark, mid tensioned spices, dry twig, limestone powder, dry stone, grilled meats, moist volcanic clays, mostly sandalwood to soft cedar notes, dry tobacco, old leather, hues of graphite, dark rich earth topped with dry earth & leaves, notes of mint-eucalyptus, dry to withering dark, red, blue flowers framed in fading red roses, excellent acidity with a finish that shows firmness, balance, beautiful structure-tension with elegance, lasts minutes and falls on spice & earthiness on the long set.

This will work its way towards 96-97 in the next few yrs. — 4 months ago