Tom Elliot

Founder Northwest Wines

9.2

Warm vintage and picked very ripe so rich, super ripe, and weighty. Still hanging on to its new oak at 19.5 years, but along with an abundance of dark fruit. Drink up, or, if well stored like this bottle, up to another 5+ years. — 3 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

8.9

Flinty, reductive. Green. Acidic. Walnut skins. Oak. — 5 years ago

Michael Herzog

8.9

Started out what I thought was over the hill. I gave it an hour and it really started to open up. Dark fruits, strong oak, and nice balance. Long finish too. This one has aged decently. — 5 years ago

Mary H

9.1

25% new oak - strong oakiness but well balanced, plum fruit but not jammy. Soft tannins - barely noticeable - but the wine does have a bit of age. — 7 years ago

with Adrienne and Louis

David and Megan Kees

9.5

Great balance between bright notes and oak. Apricot flavors are strong with this one. — 7 years ago

Andrew Willingham

9.0

Dark purple, almost brown on the eye moving toward white at rim. Medium+ viscosity. Nose sees ripe, cooked/chocolate covered cherries, oak. Palette sees more oak, sweet black cherries. Tannins are very rounded and less harsh than I expected given CabSav single varietal. I haven’t had a Novelty Hill wine in awhile, want to have more- this is solid, consistent, complex enough to enjoy but something you won’t feel too guilty about sharing with guests 😬 — 8 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.2

This drank way above the price point. Clearly Aussie juice, a brighter, more tropical version of Chard. Loads of toasty oak up front give it vanilla and sweet spice notes but it's still light and clean, with vibrant tropical and citrus notes. Flint and minerals, lemon curd. No loss of acidity after 5 years. Peaking now! — 8 years ago

Kelley Raymond

9.1

Always well balanced and good, but not big on flavor or oak — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Founded by Donn and Molly Chappelet in 1967 on renowned Pritchard Hill. A blend of 82% Cab Sauv, 10% Petit Verdot & 8% Malbec. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, cedar, cacao and sweet herbs. On the palate rich flavors of blackberry and currants with sweet oak and herbs with a great mouthfeel. Tight tannins, a bit chewy, long ending with fruit, cacao and sweet oak. Will improve, just starting to drink well now! Decant! — 5 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.3

medium reddish purple, translucent core, amber rim; red cherry, raspberry, mushrooms, pine needles; red fruit, slightly spicy finish; medium body, good acidity, light tannins which are fine grained, 13.5% ABV; made from 100% Pinot Noir sourced from vineyard Kurt Beiler planted rootstock in 2004 and grafted 2006 with multiple clones, site is in both the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley AVA’s and is the warmest of his 3 vineyard sites; about 30% whole clusters were used, aged 18 months in 20% new French oak; $55 — 6 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.4

Color of ruby and cranberry juice, a bit cloudy, quite light considering she is Syrah. Now of strawberry jam, fresh berries, like cranberry or raspberry, and overall dominated by waves of berry note. Taste follows similar notes, with addition of citrus zest, a bit vanilla, low tannin, sweet ripe blueberry, cured meat, a bit mineral, and a bit of spice. Aftertaste of warmth, a bit peppery , and zesty, medium long lingering. Clean, full of flavors, and tasty but definitely not your traditional Syrah. — 7 years ago

Kristen Grimes

9.5

chalk and ripe soft fruits on the nose... mild peach or nectarine... label says yellow apple and pie spices, balanced oak and minerals with a good body, a lingering of baking spiciness. smooth easy drinking! — 7 years ago

Ian Staub

9.0

Nicely balanced rich red fruit with oily leather, herbs, and oak. Velvety mouthfeel. Loved it. — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

It's Friday!
It is time for my Cabernet fix, isn't it?

Dark ruby in color with a ruby rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, earth, leather, green pepper, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices and black pepper. Nice and complex.

Full bodied, big and bold, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, cloves, earth, leather, green pepper, chocolates, licorice, tobacco, herbs, spices, black pepper and pencil lead.

Long finish with firm tannins and peppercorn.

What a Great Cabernet from Sonoma County, California.
Beautiful nose. Balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food.
Complex, interesting and smooth.

Drinking nicely now and will improve with time.
This Single Vineyard is delightful and delicious.

Aged for 24 months in French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume. — 9 years ago

Scott Koles

9.3

Fabulous Chardonnay, ripe fruit, mild oak. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Served blind by me at Sue Bell’s dinner party with Bruce Redman. After being tricked by Sue all week with blind tastings at the winery I was determined to get square. She was up to the task getting just the state wrong. Once I said Adelaide Hills she knew it was a Gruner. Hahndorf Hill are acknowledged as the best producers of Gruner in Australia. Taking its lead from the GV’s of Austria’s Kamptal region. Grapefruit, Citrus and stone fruit. A multi award winner on the Australian Show circuit. A gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards London 2020. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Had the ‘16 about a year ago, tried again. For more than 4 decades, the Chappellet family has been crafting wines from fruit cultivated on steep, rocky slopes of Napa’s Pritchard Hill. Aged 8 months on French oak, (33% new) in its lees. Aromas of ripe stone fruits, citrus, honey & oaky scents. On the palate layers of fruit, apple, lemon & peach with balanced acidity & gentle toasty oak. Long smooth finish ending with fruit and oak tones, a bit creamy. Very well done. A joy to drink. Still tasting great! — 6 years ago

James Webb

9.3

Classic big California Chard! Oak and Butter, this is well knit stuff! Expensive and not great QPR sadly. By the glass at Bouchon. — 7 years ago

Kevin Driscoll

9.4

Delicious. Full bodied, nice acidity and the right amount of oak. — 8 years ago

Stephanie Schwindel

9.2

Oak, peppery, blackberry, leather, cherry, acidic, bright — 8 years ago