David G. Speakman

9.0

First tastes were deliciously chocolaty. Aftertaste is bittersweet. It’s a thick dark beer. Alcohol content is 6%. — 4 years ago

Austin Baik

9.2

Very good. Lots of subtleties thag come out. Day 2 better — 5 years ago

with Stuart

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Still detoxing from Napa & Bordeaux Cabernet.

The nose reveals; dark cassis with some currants, some tarriness, hint of savory, smoked meats, black licorice to the core of anise, blackberries, black cherries, pomegranate extract, dry cranberries, some plum & blue fruits, dark fruit cola, liqueur notes, limestone minerals, some crushed rock powder, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, light vanilla, hints of sage & bay leaf, dark rich forest floor with dry leaves, dark fresh & withering flowers with a touch of bright red florals.

The body is on the fuller and richer side of Pinot. The wine is beautifully elegant across the palate. For a wine not coming from my best storage, this has held up nicely and showing far more complexity and integration than say a year ago. The structure & tension are still firm while the length and balance are approaching its high point. Dark cassis with some currants, some tarriness, hint of savory, smoked meats, black licorice to the core of anise, blackberries, black cherries, pomegranate extract, dry cranberries, some creamy black raspberries, mashed strawberries flesh, plum & blue fruits, raisins, dark fruit cola, liqueur notes, limestone minerals, some crushed rock powder, dark, long lasting spices with some heat, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, light vanilla, hints of sage & bay leaf, dark rich forest floor with dry leaves, dark fresh & withering flowers with a touch of bright red florals. The acidity is quite nice with well balanced fruit & earth finish that is persistent for minutes.

Photos of; Hope & Grace’s Stag’s Leap Vineyard, a very old vine which, I would say is 60 plus years old, Winemaker-Charles Hendricks willing to still do the heavy lifting and one of my favorite paintings that used to be in the Hope & Grace tasting room but, now is in Charles house. — 6 years ago

Eric

9.2

Sunday night stab with my buddy Coravin. Great balance and density. Black fruit, cola reduction, and tobacco dust. Nice and rich. $40 on Last Bottle. Really nice Pinot 👍 — 7 years ago

Tripp Borstel

9.0

A great value for a Pinot. High acidity with cherry, black tea and a vanilla finish. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Big ruby, ripe, juicy, blackberries, black cherries, blueberries, black raspberries, spiced plum, violets, lots of black pepper, big spice-box, bay leaf, mint, light baking spices, crush dry volcanic rocks, brown dry earth and long ripe, juicy to dry spicy dark fruit finish that lasts 45-60 seconds. Tannins are nicely resolved...it's just starting it's peak. Good; tension, structure, balance, length and acidity. — 8 years ago

Mark Mannebach

9.3

Blueberry black cherry with some minerality — 4 years ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.0

Rich and dark but with that cool climate crunch of acidity and whiffs of white pepper along with black cherry and blackberry. — 5 years ago

with Sasha

Scott E. Becker

9.3

[Tasted on January 11, 2020 at Home]

Zippy black raspberry, blackberry and brambleberry fruit, with pencil box, and black pepper on the finish. Silky structure with nice tannic backbone. Wine #83 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2012. — 5 years ago

Kirk F

9.0

Needed 30 minutes to come to life and it did in classic KB style. First time having the SLH appellation and I’d rank it a notch below the SC and RRV bottlings. Still, gobs of juicy black cherry, cola and asian spices coat the palate and it developed layers and complexity in the glass. — 6 years ago

Al

9.2

Nice peat! — 7 years ago

with Brenda and Lois

Eric

9.1

Good scotch for the price. — 7 years ago

Rachel Bovard

9.0

Black cherry, strawberry jam, leather, spinach, pepper and violets. Round on the palate with chewy tannins just dying for steak. Lovely boutique wine. — 8 years ago

Mark Mannebach

9.2

Complex with black cherry cranberry up front and mineral wet stone finish — 4 years ago

Marc Melser

8.9

We had the 2014 Vintage on 10/1-2/20. This is a good, full bodied, fruit forward Pinot Noir. The lead flavor on the bouquet and palate is black cherry. There is some oak and sweet spice. The tannins need to be smoothed with the aerator. I would buy more. — 5 years ago

Jason Brater

9.2

Loved this. Red raspberry, red cherries, plums. A dash of cocoa powder and some tobacco notes. Spicy black pepper and some smooth tannins that dry your mouth. Really loving this. — 5 years ago

with Heather

Ming L

8.9

The Clark & Telephone Vineyard PN gave me a long lasting impression, and this Las Alturas is very similar in style in its richness and intensity.

Ripe plum, blackberry jam, eucalyptus, fig, black tea, and Chinese medicinal herbs bursting on the nose. Palate has more texture and a more elegant feel with dark chocolate and spice. Firm and a bit dusty tannins. This tastes more like a blend of Zinfandel and Cab. Nice! But again this is not the type of PN I like. — 7 years ago

Libbi Odessa

9.5

Love this wine! Must buy again and save for a special occasion! — 7 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

Medium to deep ruby red. Dark nose with black pepper, cassis, black currants, graphite, a little greenery and crushed petals. Medium plus and chewy tannins (6.5/10) with a medium to medium plus bodied. Similar notes on the palate to the nose with lots of dark berries, graphite and very dry. Long finish. Insanely good value! Drink till 2024. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

OG

9.9

Bloody good. It had to be as it cost the price of a small duchy.
I have a whole bottle of this greatness with me. Not a good idea.
Taste is sort of dry, not sweet and not bitter...all in equal mix. Taste of lots of stuff. It's been through different cask apparently. Bourbon, Madeira, Port...
Lovely aroma. Doesn't come to hit you right back. — 8 years ago