Pamela St. Jean

9.0

Heavenly Vespri Pet bubbly. Soft & light as a nun’s soul. This could become a habit! Animal Spring 2020 — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

Of the Napa wines I tasted over 4 days on this trip, the 16 Sinegal Reserve & the 13 Seavey Cabernet were my favorites. Both great wines but, stylistically very different. The Seavy big and bold and the Sinegal pure beauty & elegance.

The nose reveals very dark currants. Dark & milk chocolate. Blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum & plum, mocha powder, core of anise, beautiful dark spice, soft volcanic soils, some dry brush and lavender, violets and fresh dark red florals.

The body is full. The tannins are really meaty but, exceptionally soft, fine and meaty. Lots of dark spice with plenty of heat. The mouthfeel is gorgeously sexy with feminine elegance. Dark & milk chocolate. Blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum & plum, mocha powder, core of anise, beautiful dark spice, big sweet tarry notes, soft volcanic soils, some dry brush, lavender, violets and fresh dark red florals. The acidity is perfect. The finish is well balanced sexy and gorgeous. The structure, tension say this needs to cellar eight to ten years.

Photos of; tasting cellar area, modern stainless tanks, outside terrace tasting and or dining area and their grounds and lake.

Producer history and notes...Sinegal Estate was founded in 2013 with wines made from their 30 acre Inglewood estate in St Helena (not to be confused with the Inglenook Estate in Rutherford). This is not a new property, it was part of an original land grant and its more modern day history dates back to 1879 when owner Alton Williams purchased the property and planted the first vines in 1881.

The property has changed owners a number of times over the decades. At one point the Jaegers’ owned the estate, Bill Jaeger and his wife Lila lived here. These Napa Valley pioneers were in part responsible for helping establish Freemark Abbey and Rutherford Hill. Lila was also a gardener and established beautiful gardens on the property.

Owners, David (father)and James (son) Sinegal purchased the property in 2013. James was the co-founder of Costco and once CEO. David worked at Costco for 21 years.

After the purchase, David divided each of their vineyards into smaller blocks, picking selectively (30 times in 2013) rather than all at once, and adding technology to the vineyards so they have up to the date reports on a number of data points including temperatures, soil moisture and various barometric pressures. If they want to selectively water, say vine #67 in row number three, they can do so with their irrigation system. Extremely efficient!

Nine acres of vines are planted to various red varietals including; Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. They have some of the older Cabernet Franc vines in the valley that are 30+ years old.

The soils here are diverse and can vary even within small geographic ranges on the property. Some of their vineyards are planted on the valley floor – while their upper vineyards are hillside, on the edges of the Mayacamas Mountains.

Their landscape above the property is interesting and part of the Mayacamas Mountains. Visually, it appears drier than other parts of this mountain range and the vegetation reflects that with grey pine and more open natural vegetation rather than the thicker wooded vegetation more commonly associated with parts of Spring and Diamond Mountains to the north.

After purchasing the property, David created planned and laid out his vision to create a world-class boutique wine making operation. Many wineries in the Napa Valley can take years before they come to fruition, not so here. After only about 10 months, the existing winery was remodeled. 6,500 feet of caves were expanded and drilled into the hillside behind the winery and a new hospitality center was built. The hospitality center ties in very well with the winery. From the small tasting room, large doors open revealing the tanks.

A vegetable garden slightly under an acre grows just south of the winery building. Vegetables from this garden are sold to nearby restaurants.

A skeleton key appears on the labels of their wine and is prominently displayed on the outside of their winery building. This has historical significance. The original key opens the front door to the historic home on site and is displayed in the tasting room. With respect to the history of this property, this one key has already become iconic to the brand.

You only need to look inside of the winery to see that their wine making team is focused on quality. Each of the small lot tanks have built in pumps which can be controlled and programmed to do pump-overs anytime of the day or night. In addition, these tanks have multiple points at which the temperature can be controlled. These tanks do not necessarily handle all their fermentation’s. They also ferment small lots in puncheons and barrels as needed. Control across the board is the key here and it is the control of the details in wine making that is is so integral from when the fruit first arrives through to when it is bottled.

2013 was their inaugural release. The focus is currently on two primary varietals, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc were sourced from the estate but, then it was determined it was growing in an area better suited for red varietals so it was torn up and new plantings were made in the back of the property. While not far from these original plantings, their new home for their Sauvignon Blanc features different soils and is growing in a cooler part of the property.


The wine making team has been experimenting with the style of this varietal since 2013 with subsequent vintages seeing more oak. Especially, using the slightly longer cigar shaped barrels , which have extra surface area for maximizing complexities including textural feel imparted from aging the wine on the lees in these particular barrels. Maceration on the red wines is often 8-10 days and sometimes up to 20 days.

Most of their sales are direct to visitors or through their mailing list. However, they do have some distribution outside California in Florida, New York and Washington. Primarily to restaurants. — 7 years ago

James Farmer

9.6

i won this wine in a card game against Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp co-founder and CEO. He called me a motherfucker and threaten to kill my kids, but I won the card game fair and square.

thos wine is pretty good. What can I say, it's a grape wine, the very best. — 9 years ago

Paul Luce

9.2

CEO wine, solid & reliable! Fun crew:) — 9 years ago

Gary Zander

9.5

CEO Roundtable - Phoenix AZ — 10 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

At the Annual Yalumba tasting at the Downs Club. A quick note - minty for a Shiraz Fairly Oaky with Oak Tannins showing through and Espresso on the nose. A good wine with great potential but for value I prefer the Paradox at about a third of the price. Have bought Octavius since inception when as Wine Committee Chairman the Downs Club hosted Yalumba CEO Robert Hill-Smith (still the boss) for the launch of the inaugural Octavius which strangely was a Cabernet to begin with (1987) and a Shiraz ever since. Still have my last 2002 in the cellar at home. — 6 years ago

Ruby Yao

9.1

Super fresh and clean — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.7

What a treat - tonight we had an intimate blind wine tasting with friends that was conducted by Laura Maniec, Master Sommelier and Founder/CEO of Corkbuzz Studio in NYC. At the time she received her MS she was the youngest woman to receive one. ❤️❤️❤️ her and LOVED this wine. It was killer. Dried fruits typical of amarone, soft tannins, and high alcohol. Jammy, fruit compote and light colored like a Pinot. Big, bold deliciousness. — 8 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.3

Wow tasting lineup of Te Mata wines with CEO Nick Buck ! First time with all!. The Bullnose Syrah comes across big rich with loads of black fruits, pepper and spice. Reminds me of Cayuse Syrahs from Washington State. This 2013 was Awesome. I give it a solid 93+ Rating in my book! CEO tell me the 2014 will be even more Impressive. Can't wait!!! — 9 years ago

Dakota Hewlett

8.9

Not as smoky and roasted as I like a stout to be but nice coffee notes. Good beer. — 10 years ago

Claire Odie

9.8

If you are what you drink then let me be Pinot and Littorai is a fav! Platt Vineyard - I wonder if the vineyard name will change now that the vineyard sold...yes that was Lew Platt former CEO of HP and Kendall Jackson. — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Anthony took us to the tasting room in their Cellar to taste the Hamilton Russell line of wines.

This is why you come down to this region, the Pinot Noirs. They are Burgundian in style. Nice red and blue fruits with very gentle wood use and about 13% ABV. Quite enjoyable.

Photos of; the Hamilton Russell Vineyard, a bronze statue of Anthony’s father wearing Anthony’s hat. It was his father who founded Russell Hamilton back in 1975. He was also CEO of one of the largest US advertising agencies, JWT or J. Walter Thompson. Our tasting setup in the cellar and a long view of their property and house on the hilltop. — 7 years ago

Gary Zander

9.3

CEO RT - Dallas TX — 7 years ago

Hugh O'Riordan

9.2

Bought from Rare Wine company years ago. It’s privately made by ceo of Cypress Semiconductor. This wine has become really good after 16 years. I think it will age more. Layers of flavor, toast and long finish. Wish I had more! — 8 years ago

Aaron Engel

9.0

Quite a good wine that pairs well with a CEO. But seriously, a strong but balanced not overpowered California cab. You can taste the mellowing influence of Syrah in the blend. Tanning and acid reasonably low with some nice dried fruit notes on the back finish. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

This is a blend of 85% Cabernet & 15% Syrah and grown at an elevation of 2100 feet with an average vine age of 25 years. 50-50% fermentation in oak and stainless steel. At a retail price point of $20, it’s quite good. The tannins are soft and round. It shows a lot of brighter red fruits of dark cherries, strawberries and some blackberries, touch of pepper, crushed rocks and dry top soil, dark red fresh florals, good acidity and nice finish. Producer history and notes...In the early 1990’s, Bruno Prats (Chateau Cos The) and Paul Pontallier (Chateau Margaux) discovered the high caliber of Cabernet Sauvignon being made from Chile’s Alto Maipo region. They partnered Felipe de Solminihac, a renowned Chilean agronomist, oenologist and winemaker in the region. They purchased 45 acres in the 'Quebrada de Macul', considered the heart of the Maipo Valley vineyards and Viña Aquitania was born. In January 2003, Ghislain de Montgolfier (CEO of Bollinger Champagne), became the fourth partner. Good list of French pedigree involved in Aquitania. — 8 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.9

Awesome experience trying this 2014 Coleraine with Nick Buck CEO of Te Mata Winery. They say 100 pointer! I feel in my book, yes it's amazing and giving New Zealand it's Due it might just be! Classic Bordeaux style with some New World Integration. In this day and age at a price of 69.98 it's very Impressive. CB 98-100!! #nzwine — 9 years ago

Alex G

9.5

Medical Group CEO recommended. Excellent. Drinkable but not weak. Pairs with anything! — 9 years ago

Andy Tam

9.1

Drinking wth TVB CEO at the French Consul General Residence and he bust out this quite speechless tasting wine — 10 years ago