James Cole
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
This wine is in a perfect place. 2008 is not as regarded as 2007, but this 2008 made by Charles Hendricks is saying differently & absolutely one of his very best. I would say, James & Coleen made a mistake in letting him get away.
It is sort of a Mother Mary of God wine. Not to be religious, just the phrase fits.
Our eyes & ears perk up when we hear Napa names like; Harlan, Scarecrow, Hundred Acre, Bond & Colgin. I’d like to put this in blind and watch the shock & awe in everyone eyes when the wines were revealed.
The palate entry is perfect in every way. It is rich, lush, extremely balanced with well rounded, velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries, baked strawberries framed in raspberry edges. Some of the most amazing, dark spices with palate heat, melted, dark chocolate to pudding, black licorice to anise, mocha, malt balls, caramel, mid baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, fresh & used tobacco, leathery, graphite, crushed rocks & limestone, sage brush, slightly, candied, dark & withering flowers set in understated violet’s & lavender, warm, summer, rainfall acidity, balance for days, excellent structure/tension with elegance and smart polish that lasts minutes and settles on beautiful spices.
This wine is at its precipice and will hold a few more years with good drinking for 8-10 years.
This wine is in a perfect place. 2008 is not as regarded as 2007, but this 2008 made by Charles Hendricks is saying differently & absolutely one of his very best. I would say, James & Coleen made a mistake in letting him get away.
It is sort of a Mother Mary of God wine. Not to be religious, just the phrase fits.
Our eyes & ears perk up when we hear Napa names like; Harlan, Scarecrow, Hundred Acre, Bond & Colgin. I’d like to put this in blind and watch the shock & awe in everyone eyes when the wines were revealed.
The palate entry is perfect in every way. It is rich, lush, extremely balanced with well rounded, velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries, baked strawberries framed in raspberry edges. Some of the most amazing, dark spices with palate heat, melted, dark chocolate to pudding, black licorice to anise, mocha, malt balls, caramel, mid baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, fresh & used tobacco, leathery, graphite, crushed rocks & limestone, sage brush, slightly, candied, dark & withering flowers set in understated violet’s & lavender, warm, summer, rainfall acidity, balance for days, excellent structure/tension with elegance and smart polish that lasts minutes and settles on beautiful spices.
This wine is at its precipice and will hold a few more years with good drinking for 8-10 years.
Snow day wine! Decanted- perfect. It has a few more years but drinking great right now!
Snow day wine! Decanted- perfect. It has a few more years but drinking great right now!
Feb 9th, 2017The blue fruits shine slightly overpowering black fruits. Nice evolution has taken place in the bottle, light oak use, minerals, star anise, black tea and long rich endless polished finish .
The blue fruits shine slightly overpowering black fruits. Nice evolution has taken place in the bottle, light oak use, minerals, star anise, black tea and long rich endless polished finish .
Jul 24th, 2015Brought out of the cellar. From a trip to Napa in 2011? Cherry and tobacco on the front. Hints of mint as it lingers. Still a full tannic finish after 16 years. Another bottle in the cellar to try in a few years more. Paired with locally sourced braised beef short ribs.
Brought out of the cellar. From a trip to Napa in 2011? Cherry and tobacco on the front. Hints of mint as it lingers. Still a full tannic finish after 16 years. Another bottle in the cellar to try in a few years more. Paired with locally sourced braised beef short ribs.
Aug 9th, 2024