Bob McDonald

9.3

Mid Ruby in colour. Aromas of Raspberry (Grenache) and Tar (Mataro). The medium weight palate shows the raspberry sweetness with liquorice and tar coming through with spice from the Shiraz. A blend of 64% Grenache; 18% Mataro/Mourvèdre and 18% Shiraz. These are old bush vines that survived the vine pull scheme of the 1980s (which was viticultural vandalism at the time). The Steading is probably my favourite Torbreck Cuvée regardless of price. A permanent resident in the cellar. — 5 years ago

Adam Beasley

9.7

I’m not as passionate about beer as I once was, and my wife is the resident beer nerd in our house, but there’s no denying the sheer power and complexity of this Imperial Stout. Aged in once-used maple syrup barrels, this was a treat for sure. 11%+ abv, served at cellar temp. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Winemaker Tony Coltrin was born in St. Helena and is a lifelong Napa Valley resident. Light straw with fresh crisp citrus and stone fruit aromas. The palate shows fruit, peach, apple and Asian pear, with lemony and toasty notes, lively acidity, wine spent 9 months sur lie in 33% new French oak. Medium finish ending with creamy citrus character. Delightful! Good value. — 7 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.5

Wasn’t expecting such a big Chardonnay - this is full throttle! (And it impressed the resident Chardonnay aficionado, aka my better half). Stone fruits, peach nectar, butterscotch, a touch of vanilla, citrus and minerals on the finish. Creamy texture with very decent acid. Long finish. Beautiful. Thanks for this bad ass in a glass @Martin G Rivard — 8 years ago

Christine Havens

9.0

Tablas Creek has long been one of my favorite Paso Robles producers. From the care they put into their vineyards—biodynamic farming, noisy sheep, a rambunctious trio of winery dogs, and a resident shepherd—the good folks at Tablas turn out elegant wines that are nuanced, superbly balanced and long aging. For the price, they're just that much more attractive. The 2016 Patelin de Tablas is fresh, light, convivial. Lemon curd and yellow apple lifted by a starburst of white mineral acid that courses through the center. — 8 years ago

Andre Lopez

8.9

One of the smoothest Three Valleys I've ever had. Always such a great value. If you're the type who carries a "house" wine, a great candidate for your resident red. — 10 years ago

Kim Stanbro

9.1

Gellers Bday with Thomas George and our own resident George. — 11 years ago

with Dave, Mark and 2 others

Paul T HB

9.4

Pop & pour,
Better than the 17, its not a thinker just a drinker.


Caterwaul is a collaborative project between Thomas Rivers Brown and Matt Hardon. Thomas Rivers Brown is the winemaker for some of Napa and Sonoma’s most iconic labels (Schrader Cellars, Outpost and his own Rivers-Marie), has more than twenty 100-point wines on his resume. Matt Hardin, is a 6th generation Napa resident and farmer, is a partner in Barbour Vineyards, one of the most renowned vineyard — 5 years ago

Darren Dittrich

9.2

Crunchy, vibrant Pinot. 12.55% ABV (woot!) Unfined, unfiltered. This is Brian’s style of wine, a style I’m happy to drink. But, my resident non-credentialed wine drinker said: “It looks like a Pinot, but it doesn’t taste like a Pinot....”
There’s some candied cherry fruit for sure, but grippy minerals and green veggies make this a different animal. Could easily be confused with cru Beaujolais. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Charles Hendricks makes perhaps the best domestic Pinot Noir I’ve had. The 2008 I had 3-4 years ago is the only domestic Pinot Noir I’ve given a score of 9.8. This 2014 could end up rivaling it with a few more years of bottle evolution.

The nose is beautifully layered, fruit, earth, herbaceousness and spices. Ripe, brightly floral and creamy; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, blueberries, baked strawberries, pomegranate extract, raspberries and dry cranberries. Vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, soft, dark spices, dark berry cola/licorice, rich & dry dark soils, limestone minerals, touch of eucalyptus & sage, dark chocolate, understated tarriness, hints of smokiness & grilled meats, used charcoal, underbrush and dark red & blue floral, violet with haunting light lavender.

The 2014 has some of the best palate florals I’ve experienced. The body is round, full and gorgeous. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious and beautifully stitched together. The acidity is like a warm rain shower. Ripe, brightly floral and creamy; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, blueberries, baked strawberries, pomegranate extract, raspberries and dry cranberries. Vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, soft, dark spices, dark berry cola/licorice, rich & dry dark soils, limestone minerals, touch of eucalyptus & sage, dark chocolate with a little milk layered over the top, mocha powder, salted caramel, understated tarriness, hints of smokiness & grilled meats, used charcoal, underbrush and dark red & blue floral, violet with haunting light lavender. The well balanced, elegantly sexy, finish is pure beauty that persists for several minutes.

This wine has all the makings of pushing a perfect score.

Photos of; a Santa Lucia Highlands vineyard, a paint from one of my favorite modern artists that hangs in the Hope & Grace tasting room where Hendricks wines can be purchased, Winemaker-Charles Hendricks and a vertical Pinot tasting on the bar in the Hope & Grace tasting room with my favorite painting from their resident artist that used to hang in their tasting room behind it but, now hangs in Charles house. — 7 years ago

Russ Bus

9.2

Dark, robust, more evolved. Organic. Zin100. Eastern Bench of Dry Creek; 1/4mike west of Lytton winery/ younger vines / heavy canopy management and vigor control / 13yr vines planted on Fallow lands to deplete non-organic compounds and fertilizer naturally in that time by resident horses / 5.700cs / 20acres / 4t/a — 10 years ago

Ansis Purins

9.0

Mr Kurt my town(Aspen) resident shared it with us. Lovely. I do think last years was more exciting, — 10 years ago

Peter Scudamore-Smith MW

9.4

Well if the 82 Bordeaux are proving amazing so is this Wynns 82; like it's cousins in the Medoc; very cabernet dominant; winemaker at the time John Wade, now a WA resident; had his first go at small barrique winemaking; now more cleverly used by Sue Hodder; current winemaker; this 13% wine still has the black fruit of correctly ripe cabernet; and the tannin draw and backbone which ticks my boxes; great drink from Coonawarra; wished more from that region show this way; the bar is set; 33 years later; #wynns #coonawarra #cabernet #1982 — 11 years ago

Stuart Scheff

8.9

Pineapple, mango,lemon rind sea shell and beach mist. Halibut from my resident chef, perfect pairing. — 5 years ago

Dave Teal

10

I usually like Oregon Pinots exclusively but the 2013 was lovely. I’m a DC resident so I’ll be ordering more! — 7 years ago

James Forsyth

9.7

The Chimère from Manfred Krankl of Sine Qua Non fame, and the Maurel brothers of Clos Saint Jean, is, appropriately, a beast. Cherry, blackcurrant, Christmas spice, violets and chocolate. Many elements combine to make a compelling wine that deserves attention over time. Indeed, when this bottle was initially opened, the prevailing thought at the table was that it would last months. A small tipple to check in, some time later, was tasted with our own resident chimera (well at least she sort of has the head of Lion element down) present. — 7 years ago

Mr. Winecountry

9.2

Awesome. Go there. — 8 years ago

Jack Cranley, Backroads Wine Club & Cascadia Premium Wines

9.6

Absolutely terrific wine. Bound to uplift even the most doomy-gloomy mood. As such, it pairs well with political discourse and the prospect of "President Trump." Go ahead, drink those sorrows away. You deserve it.

Beautiful, shimmering golden color. I believe it's actually already deepening with age. (2012 vintage consumed in mid-2016)

On the nose, apricot fruit and unrefined honey dominate but is accompanied with a menagerie of rare and precious aromatics. The result is a feeling of having something truly exotic in your glass. This is a world-class wine for which there could never be any argument over its worthiness. You will be taken by this wine and there's really no way to over-hype it and set the expectation bar too high because this wine will meet it every time.

As we dig in deeper past the obvious top notes, we discover a treasure chest filled with persimmon, sandalwood, white flower, and vanilla bean.

Upon first entry in the mouth you are met with a zippy liveliness but then that melts gently across your palate to really give you a fine, pervasive coating that excites the taste buds in every corner of your mouth. This is a POWERHOUSE of assertive flavor. This wine will stage a veritable coup d'etat upon your complacent palate. There will be an ouster of your resident ennui. No incumbent sense of boredom will be safe from this wave of populist essence. There will be a complete and total transition of power in the halls of your mind's parliament leading to a peaceful but efficacious revolution. With your personal Congress in shambles, this fresh new confederacy shall draft a Constitution that will usher in a new era of utopian cooperation and transcendental civic euphoria!

Sorry, maybe for a little carried away there. For reals though. Drink this wine when you're feeling down and feel the BURN! Well, not really - because the alcohol is really well-integrated. ;) — 9 years ago

George M Wood

9.1

The smart Napa resident goes to Sonoma for the Pinot - My tasting notes to follow:
YUM! — 11 years ago

Christina Turley

Sales & Marketing Turley Wine Cellars

9.7

Family dinner for last night as a St Helena resident. Home is where the hearth is. cc @ownrooted — 11 years ago