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

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. — 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

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

Heidi McLain

9.0

Smooth and smoky, from the Isle of Skye. Another one of the whiskies we tasted at the November Old Line Scotch Club meeting. #talisker #tenyear #whisky #oldlinescotchclub — 9 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.4

Still vibrant with tart black fruit and nice acid. This wine has aged well. Smooth, complex and balanced. — 9 years ago

with Susan

Randy P

9.2

Delicious wine from a rare variety planted in a very unique site in the NorCal mountains. Not expecting the multitude of happy sensations received whilst imbibing. Shared with woman life partner. She seemed to enjoy as well. Spicy cove, tobacco, expired yet indelible black pepper ever present. 15 minutes in, dark fruit core begins to show. This wine is structured. Fierce, gripping tannin grabbed me like a thief in a dark alley. I really like the seriousness of this wine esp since it hails from a very unknown areas. It's nice right now but id like to see this wine in my glass in 3 years. 13.5%. — 10 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.5

Cherry cola, black berry with mineral notes. Nice soft finish. — 11 years ago

Martin Redmond

9.4

Dark ruby garnet color with lifted very appealing cherry liquer, white pepper, dried herb and a bit of graphite aromason the palate its medium-bodied,fresh and balanced with supple texture with dark cherry, black raspberry,baking spiced dark cacao flavors. Long finish. Bottled unfiltered and unfined. 14.2% alcohol — 11 years ago

Austin Baik

9.2

Very good. Lots of subtleties thag come out. Day 2 better — 6 years ago

with Stuart

Nate Miles

9.6

Black olive in a tuxedo. Dark deliciousness. — 7 years ago

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

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 👍 — 8 years ago

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. — 9 years ago

Christian Fischer

9.3

Only for special occasion. Good or bad. This one is still special — 9 years ago

Nicole Dutram

9.0

Dark red fruit nose. Super ripe black cherry, blackberry, then light spice, like white pepper, and a little bit of funk. Clean on the palette. Very drinkable. Had on jun 29 2016. — 9 years ago

Evelyn Ignatow

Owner, Hyde Park Gourmet Food & Wine

9.3

Beautiful black cherries. Great acidity — 10 years ago

John Kemper

9.1

A deep ruby, the '11 Lucia Pinot Noir 'Garys' Vineyards' is generously perfumed with black cherry, licorice, rose petal and baking spice scents. The expansive palate is flavored with oaky notes of dark chocolate and cherry-cola. Nice lingering finish with a good balance of spicy acid and sweet ripe tannins. — 11 years ago

Phoebe Li

9.8

Pronounced floral, red fruit (plum, black cherry), chocolate on the nose. Light body, silky smooth tannin, very long on the palate. Gorgeous Pinot noir! — 12 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. — 6 years ago

with Heather

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. — 7 years ago

Al

9.2

Nice peat! — 8 years ago

with Brenda and Lois

Libbi Odessa

9.5

Love this wine! Must buy again and save for a special occasion! — 8 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. — 9 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.2

Super fantastic 07 Syrah from Mendocino. Has not lost a step whatsoever but has gained a lot in terms of complexity. Beautiful aromas of sage, tar, candied black cherry and espresso. Soft mod palate and long long finish — 9 years ago

with Christian

Christian Ramirez Romanini

10

Extraordinario!!!
No tengo palabras... ...simplemente "¡WOW!"... — 9 years ago

Courtney Cochran

Sommelier/Host hiptastes.com

9.1

Cherry-pomegranate bacon swizzle, kiss of tar and Worschestershire, blackberry/black pepper suggestion. Skin of apple, poppyseed, brown spice. Full body but lean tannins and low intensity for CA Syrah, making this quite, quite nice, tres bien Merci ⭐️
— 10 years ago

with Ronald and Jayme

Jeffrey Bragman

President at WINEPSYCH

9.8

Beautiful dark color, black fruit nose, great wine. — 12 years ago

Antonio Borja

9.6

Love it!!!! — 13 years ago