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Hoyt Hammer

36 wines • 7 followers • 6 following

Round Pond Estate

Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

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Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt had this 7 years ago

Will AdamsShay ADonnie Siratt
with Will, Shay and 6 others
Eric, . and 21 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

One of my contributions for Napa Cab vs Napa Merlot blind taste night!

This wine is a great example of Napa cab, especially from Rutherford. This is dark fruit (fresh squeezed blackberries, Black currant) with a crunchy (cranberry) finish, stain the glass purple, slow moving legs and lovely earthy notes on the tongue. Dusted cocoa leaves, too. Decanted about two hours and was prime. At $60'ish/bottle, this wine gives their reserve ($110) a battle for best QPR.
9.3
Jason and Jennie

Jason and Jennie Premium Badge

What year? Definitely a great value
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Jason Oliver : This was the ‘13. Could use more time but the decant opened it beautifully.

Grgich Hills Estate

Napa Valley Merlot 2012

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Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt had this 7 years ago

Will AdamsShay ADonnie Siratt
with Will, Shay and 6 others
Ryan, Jason and 15 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Classic Napa Merlot. Mellow and fun to drink. Mushroom and blackberry pie. Acidity is fairly light. Plum and dusty...perfectly Rutherford.
9.2

Baronne Philippine de Rothschild

Pastourelle de Clerc Milon Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

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Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt Hammer

9.5

Hoyt had this 8 years ago

Colby Siratt
with Colby
Shay liked this

Kenefick Ranch

Chris's Cuvée Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

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Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt had this 7 years ago

Will AdamsShay ADonnie Siratt
with Will, Shay and 6 others
Eric, Ryan and 14 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Nose on this was so “dirty”, and I figured cab franc was mixed in and because of that, it would be the merlot. Wrong. Plush and smooth. Dark fruit and a bit chalky.
9.2
Jason and Jennie

Jason and Jennie Premium Badge

Such a great vineyard

Shafer Vineyards

Napa Valley Merlot 2014

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Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt had this 7 years ago

Will AdamsShay ADonnie Siratt
with Will, Shay and 6 others
Eric, . and 32 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

A top Merlot for me coming out of Napa (alongside Paloma, Jarvis & Hourglass). I correctly guessed merlot out of the flight paid based on the truffled mushroom nose, medium acidity and simple structure. Everything about this wine is harmonious and is a textbook example of Napa Merlot. Red and black fruit medley finish with some heft.
9.3

Chateau Potelle

VGS Mount Veeder Syrah

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Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt had this 7 years ago

Will AdamsShay ADonnie Siratt
with Will, Shay and 6 others
Severn, Ryan and 9 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Think this was my wine of the night. Never heard of it! I even guessed it wrong, thinking it was the merlot of the flight pair. Had a menthol like note that had me and one other thinking it may be Heitz Martha’s. Very smooth and plush. Blueberry pie, vanilla and truffled mushroom. Reminds me of what a 2011 Bevan Cab would taste like.
9.4

Kenefick Ranch

Estate Grown Calistoga Merlot 2014

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Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt had this 7 years ago

Will AdamsShay ADonnie Siratt
with Will, Shay and 6 others
Eric, Ryan and 13 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Thought this was Cab, not necessarily due to color or notes, but mainly because of structure. Nice acidity and red fruit driven. More tannic than the cab!
9.2

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

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Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt Hammer

Hoyt had this 7 years ago

Will AdamsShay ADonnie Siratt
with Will, Shay and 6 others
., Ryan and 21 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Hard to rate this wine. I immediately guessed it was the cab of the flight pair, and it was, and thought maybe it was a Bevan Cellars cab. After time in the glass, it got a bit more flabby, which had me thinking it was an Orin Swift wine, possibly Mercury Head. It was sweet, sugary, fruit forward and accessible. Loads of blue fruit, nutmeg, vanilla and some toasted bread. Medium tannic structure that suggested it could benefit from a few more years in the cellar but was totally ready to party now. Pop and pour like palate. Love it or hate it style.
Stuart Scheff

Stuart Scheff

Love it

Aonair Wines

Duarte Vineyard Grenache Blend 2015

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Hoyt Hammer

9.6

Hoyt had this 8 years ago

Colby Siratt
with Colby
Shay liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2005

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Hoyt Hammer

9.8

Hoyt had this 8 years ago

J.W.Wilson Benjamin KeatorWill Adams
with J.W.Wilson, Benjamin and 5 others
Shay, Mike and 8 others liked this