Barry Grossman

9.1

Rich, smoky, meaty, but well balanced. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Charles strikes again.

I said weeks ago, I’d rather drink Charles Hendricks Pinot in futures @ $75 vs. the 09 Marcassin we had two weeks back @ $150+ winery or $225+ on the secondary market. This 14, while still young, proves that point and will only continue to get better.

It’s about as luxurious as Ca Pinot gets. Just supple, soft & elegant as body gets. Candied, floral fruits of ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, lean purple fruits, dry cranberries, strawberries, plums, delicate but darks spices, cinnamon stick, vanillin, nutmeg & touch clove, salted caramel, mocha powder, limestone & grey volcanics, dry crushed rocks hints of peppered grilled meats, fresh & dry tobacco, dry stems/twigs, sage dominated dry Provence herbs, splash of mint/eucalyptus, tree sap with bright candied, fresh & slightly withering florals of; dark, red, purple, blue set in a field of violets & some lavender. The acidity is perfect. The long finish is; extremely well balanced & polished, elegant, fresh, just the right amount of candied with a long, dark spice finish in the long set.

The 14 really started to excel after an hour plus in the decanter.

Photos of; the outside of the Hope & Grace tasting room in downtown Yountville where you will find Charles Hendricks wines. He makes Hope & Grace wines as well. One of my favorite paintings that used to sit behind their tasting bar but, is now in Charles house. It is very Pollock like! Winemaker/Co-owner Charles Hendricks and a vineyard in region of the Santa Lucia Highlands. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals; brambly, blackberries, dark cherries, stewed strawberries, blueberries, hints of slightly cooked rhubarb, mix of black plum & plum, creamed raspberries, vanilla, touch of cinnamon, clove and even less nutmeg, dark spice, underbrush, soft leather, fresh tobacco, limestone minerals, dry herbs-bay leaf, mid, mixed, berry cola, crushed, dry rock, steeped fruit tea, cherry kirsch, slight liqueur notes, candied; violets, fresh dark & red florals with hints of lavender.

The body is full, still youthful and lush. The palate & tannins are rounded but, teethe, tarry & a touch austere. The tension, structure, length and balance are very nice but, still have 7–10 years good drinking ahead. Brambly, blackberries, dark cherries, stewed strawberries, blueberries, hints of slightly cooked rhubarb, mix of black plum & plum, creamed raspberries, vanilla, touch of cinnamon stick, clove and even less nutmeg, dark spice, black licorice, underbrush, old, soft leather, fresh tobacco, limestone minerals, dry herbs-bay leaf, mid, mixed, berry cola, tarry notes, crushed, dry rock, dry top soil, steeped fruit tea, cherry kirsch, slight liqueur notes, candied; violets, fresh dark & red florals with hints of lavender.

One flaw, the first glass showed a little to much alcohol heat but, dissipated after. 14.5 ABV...seemed more like 15.5.

Photos of; our visit to Larkmead’s tasting room, the back courtyard and two aspects of their tasting patio. — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.5

Fabulous relaxed & reasonably priced meal at “Blanc” in the Mandarin Oriental with Chef Carme Ruscalleda, whose restaurants have won 7 Michelin stars! ⏩ Scroll for delish city’s food pics on Instagram ⏩

A truly unique wine that’s €112 in restaurant & €56 from winery that went with all the foods shown perfectly 😍

📍 Terroir Al Limit Pedra de Guix 2014

🏵 95 points

🍇 Pedro Ximénez, Macabeo & Garnatxa Blanca

🍷 Amber honey w/ a bronze orange tone

👃 Light burnt marmalade, stick toffee pudding foam, old sherry cask, fallen green apple & vanilla custard

👄 Med refreshing body of brown green apple in torched brown sugar w/ honey, citrus zest & baked orange w/ soft sherry tickles

🎯 Long aged tortured toffee old apple in honey & brown sugar - a sherry but elegant & subtle

💭 Mrs E says “Nowhere near as heavy as it looks”

— 7 years ago

Jeff Gower

9.4

Velvety, big nose & stick to your gums! — 8 years ago

with Bill and Lee

D Bender

9.2

A tart red fruited wine with so much savory. Dried leaves, graphite, iron, cedar and cinnamon stick. Dusty and balanced. Even undertones of herbs way in the back. Such a long wine. @ $28 WS and with a magnum tucked away, this will be a safe bet for a long time to come. 10-15 more years? — 8 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.2

I love this wine. So much ground pepper and chimney smoke on the nose. It’s like walking around on a rainy or snowy winter day and smelling the sweet perfume of your neighbors chimney. I almost totally dislike the white Listan Blanco Benje. I find that tired and lacking acidity and just tired. I prefer this wine to the more expensive Migan. Migan had more reduction and ethyl acetate on the nose and okay okay it’s more Pinot Noiresque but I don’t need a wine from the Canary Islands to be like a Pinot Noir. #listan #listannegro #canaryislands #spain — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve everyone! 🎄🎅🤶⛄️❄️🎁🍷

On the nose, leap dark currants & cassis with bright red, dark, blue & purple florals at pop & pour. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherry kirsch, plum, mulberries, blueberries, poached & strawberries, black raspberries & raspberries. Black licorice, star anise, dark chocolate bar, volcanic & limestone, steeped fruit teas, dark cola, sweet tarry notes, black, rich, turned earth, mid, dark spices, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, barrel shavings with char, dry brush, leather, fresh tobacco, granite, some eucalyptus, mint notes, light, dry herbs with fresh & some withering red, dark, purple and blue, fresh and slightly candied florals.

The body is; round, ripe, & rich. The tension, structure, length and balance are just beginning their sweet spot. The tannins are; rounding, tarry & still chewy. Plenty of life left in the 09...8-10 years. Dark currants & cassis. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherry kirsch, plum, mulberries, blueberries, poached & strawberries, cherries, black raspberries & raspberries. Black licorice, star anise, dark chocolate bar, volcanic & limestone, dry, crushed rocks, dry stems, steeped fruit teas, dark cola, sweet tarry notes, black, rich, turned earth, mid, dark spices, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, barrel shavings with char, dry brush, leather, fresh tobacco, granite, some eucalyptus, mint notes, light, dry herbs with fresh & some withering red, dark, purple and blue, fresh and slightly candied florals. The acidity is round & spot on. The ripe, rich, ruby, elegant, balanced & polished finish is splendid and persists nicely on the palate with mid, dark spice on the long set. So much better with this much age. Really delicious tonight!

A steal now at under $35 upon release at Costco.

This wine is close to its peak and will hover there 3-4 years.

Photos of; the Estate, old large oak vats and David Heitz.
— 6 years ago

K S

9.4

Big Top Tues Dash w/Rebate....super deal of $5.99. Deep Dark Cherry w/low tannin ending. — 7 years ago

Ray Gobberg

9.1

Winemaker notes: “This wine evokes the smells of walking a trail on the coast through a redwood forest. Notes of dried herbs and sous bois mix with wild berry fruits and cedar. The aromas are further complexed with dried citrus peel, clove, and allspice. The palate typifies the coastal tannin profile, with a robust finish of citrus peel, gravel, and stone. The structured and mineral-driven palate exudes flavors of cherry pit, flowers, and coffee.” 2018-2026 — 7 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.3

2007 Vintage. Nice acidity and that burnt match stick note. Enough umph to stand up to spicy Thai food. — 8 years ago

Robyn Becker

9.8

At Friends giving. The wine with the stick — 8 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

2008 vintage. At Au Fils du Zinc in Chablis. Just pop and pour - no decanting. Bright pale cherry hue. On the nose, typical crushed raspberry with earthy farmyard meaty notes. Enticing. On the palate, like walking up stairs - different levels of flavour and intensity as it rolls through the tongue. Medicinal and herbal but in a balanced and interesting way - a crescendo of concentration on the back of the palate. Medium minus acidity and medium body. Slightly warm alcohol and a huge finish. Another wow wine from a wow trip. Young? Drinking very well despite its youth. Might develop a little more from here. Drink now until 2025+. — 8 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.1

Lighter bodied. Fruity of strawberry, hickory and a little funky woodsy, mushroom. Yum! — 5 years ago

Kate Stone

9.0

Very smooth. Long finish, yet tannins don’t seem to stick to your tongue. Rich flavor bit doesn’t overpower seafood. Excellent flavor for price point — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

A longtime friend visited us today at our rental property. We have an annual Christmas tradition of me giving him a bottle of Pinot and a coffee cake (homage to my mother’s Christmas coffee cake) and he shares his allocation of Sea Smoke. He gave us this bottle awhile back and a 2015 Southing today. In honor of our tradition, we are enjoying this 2010 tonight.

The nose reveals; mulberries, boysenberries, plum, dark cherries, blueberries, fresh & dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries hovering on the edge of the glass, steeped fruit teas, touch smoke & soft grilled meats, subtle, sweet, tarry notes, dark, rich soils, dark chocolate, limestone, crush, dry rocks, understated caramel/mocha notes, bay leaf, soft sage, dry stems, dark, fruit licorice, light, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, hints of vanillin, barrel char with fresh & withering, slightly candied, dark, red, blue & purple flowers.

The body is round, full, lush and velvety. It glides beautifully over the palate. The 2010 is around its peak with 5-8 years of good drinking ahead. She is an elegant beauty. The tension, structure, length and balance are in a great place for many but, I think even better in 2-3 years. Mulberries, boysenberries, plum, dark cherries, blackberries, blueberries, fresh & dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries haunting the secondary fruits, steeped fruit teas, touch smoke & soft grilled meats, subtle, sweet, tarry notes, dark, rich soils, dark chocolate, limestone, crush, dry rocks, understated caramel/mocha notes, bay leaf, soft sage, menthol, dry stems, dark, fruit licorice, perfect, dark spice with just the right amount of palate heat, clove, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, hints of vanillin, barrel char with fresh & withering, slightly candied, dark, red, blue & purple flowers. The acidity is nearly perfect & holds back the slightly higher ABV. The long finish is a darling, elegant, sexy, beauty with great balance & polish polish for days that slides into a spicy, round & drier, tarry, tannin presence that persists minutes.

Photos of; two of their single vineyard Pinot’s, branded barrel and Winemaker- Victor Gallegos. — 6 years ago

Ron R

9.3

Happy new year, peeps 😃🎈🎊
Stick a fork in us 😐 — 7 years ago

with Anne-marie

Rob Ritchie

9.0

The Wife and I have just started our wine journey. Picked this up for fun. We enjoyed it. — 8 years ago

Mark Wilson

9.1

Delicious. Fruity with multiple flavors. Great summer wine. Mike S recommended. Finished bottle same night. Great PQR at 14.40 on TW 20% off. Not as good as Hartford but as good as Seghasio Sonoma. Need to stick up on. — 8 years ago

Greg Nixon

9.0

This was a wonderfully complex flavorful Cab. This was the only Roundpond offering we liked. Need to stick to the granite series. — 8 years ago