Tom Garland

9.3

Pop and pour from MAG. A splendid light gold color. On the nose: apple, honeydew melon, banana, crushed stone, floral. Taste: still young at 11 years. Fresh, chalky, with depth and character. Notes of pear, nectarine, lemon & lime, and a white pepper minerally long lean finish. YUM! — 7 days ago

with Brenda

Jeroen Koenen

9.6

Served a few degrees too warm, alas… — 2 months ago

Ely Cohn

9.3

Exceptional wine and so classically elegant (not using the B word) except that its hiding an extra point of alcohol (14%) behind an unassuming pale hay glow that looks light and lean. I love the bait and switch.

The delicate sprinkled spices of lemon curd and vanilla and toasted coconut shaving juxtapose the power in the palette - weight and viscosity and length to go the distance.

10 years in, in a perfect spot. — 4 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.2

Good but not great. Soft cork that fell apart and required the Durand. Not a good start. Never really shined the way this vineyard should. — 13 days ago

Tom Heckert

9.1

Another forgotten bottle. Subtle berries and cherries with a subdued finish after all these years. Still very drinkable. Paired with grilled local pasture feed porkchops. — 2 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Merlot and Malbec blended in. Dark ruby color. Aromas of cooked black cherries and blueberries. The palate offers a blend of jammy red, blue and blackberry fruit along with notes of mint, baking spices, coffee and orange zest. Medium-plus body and well balanced. Not overly powerful or rich but pretty harmonious. Velvety tannins. I think I enjoyed this one more than you did, Keith S! — 4 months ago

Troy Dupuis

9.0

Had 2020 at Wine Spectator event and it was delicious. $15 a bottle — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It's time for some Merlot on this MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black fruits with light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, light black pepper, herbs, light vanilla and licorice.

Tangy finish with soft tannins.

This 5-year-old Merlot from Napa Valley is peaking now, and drinking very nicely. Fruit forward with an elegant mouthfeel.

Wine Spectator 91 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good for parties. Good with food too.

A blend of 77% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Syrah. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$35. — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.9

This is Stephen Henschke’s favourite vintage of H of G he said. This was the first vintage he bottled under screw cap and all subsequent vintages have been bottled that way. They have also experimented with the Vinolok glass stopper. As Stephen said “I love tradition and it is very important as a 6th generation family owned winery. However when tradition lets you down as it has with cork, there is time to evaluate better closures. “ He went on to say the 2002 has that distinctive Hill of Grace nose which you can’t define but it does have the trademark mint, spice and sage. The palate is profoundly intense and could go on for another 10 years but flirting with perfection right now. — 4 months ago

carl thornblade

9.2

Always a joy. started out a bit too cold, need to be patient and let it open up and warm up for best aroma and flavor. — 5 months ago