Hunnicutt
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
On the nose, steeped tea style fruits. Lots of soft French oak. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, Thompson raisins, cherries, strawberries, vanilla, subtle cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, dark rich soils, anise, violets, dark red florals and blue flowers.
The body is just full with dark, tarry, sticky tannins. Structure is sound but not huge. The tension is firm and the length & balance are nice all of framed nicely in a good presence of French oak. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, Thompson raisins, cherries, strawberries, vanilla, subtle cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, dry stone, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry tobacco leaf, dry brush, dark rich soils, anise, violets, dark red florals and blue flowers. Nice round acidity. The finish is well balanced, elegant but needs 6-8 years in bottle to truly impress. This just missed 94 because I lean a little conservative on young reds.
Photos of; Hunnicutt, their old Phonograph in the tasting room that reminds me of a similar one I had as kid, beautiful Hunnicutt grapes ready for harvest and their tasting room and grounds.
On the nose, steeped tea style fruits. Lots of soft French oak. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, Thompson raisins, cherries, strawberries, vanilla, subtle cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, dark rich soils, anise, violets, dark red florals and blue flowers.
The body is just full with dark, tarry, sticky tannins. Structure is sound but not huge. The tension is firm and the length & balance are nice all of framed nicely in a good presence of French oak. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, Thompson raisins, cherries, strawberries, vanilla, subtle cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, dry stone, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry tobacco leaf, dry brush, dark rich soils, anise, violets, dark red florals and blue flowers. Nice round acidity. The finish is well balanced, elegant but needs 6-8 years in bottle to truly impress. This just missed 94 because I lean a little conservative on young reds.
Photos of; Hunnicutt, their old Phonograph in the tasting room that reminds me of a similar one I had as kid, beautiful Hunnicutt grapes ready for harvest and their tasting room and grounds.
New one .. dry full bodied right amount of fruit . Good find
New one .. dry full bodied right amount of fruit . Good find
Sep 12th, 2021
This is the first time a bottle of this has lasted to day three. Really impressive. This one will age well I think.
This is the first time a bottle of this has lasted to day three. Really impressive. This one will age well I think.
Jun 26th, 2019
Compared to the quivet napa and rivers marie napa, this needed the most air. The most fruit of the 3. Quivet was more earth/herb and rivers marie had a blend of fruit and menthol.
Compared to the quivet napa and rivers marie napa, this needed the most air. The most fruit of the 3. Quivet was more earth/herb and rivers marie had a blend of fruit and menthol.
Apr 5th, 2019This is a pretty wine. It’s not a big masculine wine. Some dark cherry but also darker fruit than the brinkman (aka beckstoffer george iii). More round and plush than angular. Not big tannins but the ones that are there frame the fruit nicely. Medium acid. Hint of herbal/chocolate/spices. It’s been a while but this reminds me of the 2012 napa cab which was our first wine from hunnicutt. 2013 was a bombastic opulent wine that stands out for sure. The 2014 was more tannic and angular. It’s in a good spot now. The 2015 was more merlot heavy and took a while to develop. It’s my girlfriend’s favorite of the 2014-2016 right now. @Paul E Koran
This is a pretty wine. It’s not a big masculine wine. Some dark cherry but also darker fruit than the brinkman (aka beckstoffer george iii). More round and plush than angular. Not big tannins but the ones that are there frame the fruit nicely. Medium acid. Hint of herbal/chocolate/spices. It’s been a while but this reminds me of the 2012 napa cab which was our first wine from hunnicutt. 2013 was a bombastic opulent wine that stands out for sure. The 2014 was more tannic and angular. It’s in a good spot now. The 2015 was more merlot heavy and took a while to develop. It’s my girlfriend’s favorite of the 2014-2016 right now. @Paul E Koran
I ordered a few more of these so convinced myself to open this one. There was a small difference that stood out from my first review. I don’t know if it’s because I was opening the first bottle inside the FedEx truck as he was delivering??? 😉
This was well integrated black fruit with soft tannins. First bottle I swore I remembered puckering tannins at the end. Nothing out of place. Just didn’t remember this soft. Regardless...
Great wine! Looking forward to a couple more. @Jason Oliver I spoke to Andrew and he’s ready for your visit! 👍. I’m looking forward to discussing one of these releases with you, Patrick, and Andrew @ Hunnicutt.
I ordered a few more of these so convinced myself to open this one. There was a small difference that stood out from my first review. I don’t know if it’s because I was opening the first bottle inside the FedEx truck as he was delivering??? 😉
This was well integrated black fruit with soft tannins. First bottle I swore I remembered puckering tannins at the end. Nothing out of place. Just didn’t remember this soft. Regardless...
Great wine! Looking forward to a couple more. @Jason Oliver I spoke to Andrew and he’s ready for your visit! 👍. I’m looking forward to discussing one of these releases with you, Patrick, and Andrew @ Hunnicutt.
Fall shipment arrived today. Pop n pour on the 2016 Cab is really nice. It’s all there, nice fruit, good structure, ends with some vanilla and puckering tannins. Good balance and mouthfeel. There’s a little alcohol heat. Reminds me of when I popped the 2015 the day I got them. That cooled off 6 months later. I’m going to like pulling this out over the next few years. Now back to the 2013s! 🤯 Also pretty excited about the 2012 and 2015 935s. Awaiting @Jason Oliver ‘s reviews on those!
1 hour later opening up: whoa. Smoothing out nicely. Picking up some perfume on the nose now and chocolate. Mmm.
Fall shipment arrived today. Pop n pour on the 2016 Cab is really nice. It’s all there, nice fruit, good structure, ends with some vanilla and puckering tannins. Good balance and mouthfeel. There’s a little alcohol heat. Reminds me of when I popped the 2015 the day I got them. That cooled off 6 months later. I’m going to like pulling this out over the next few years. Now back to the 2013s! 🤯 Also pretty excited about the 2012 and 2015 935s. Awaiting @Jason Oliver ‘s reviews on those!
1 hour later opening up: whoa. Smoothing out nicely. Picking up some perfume on the nose now and chocolate. Mmm.
