I always forget how well this wine ages. The Chardonnay doesn’t stomp all over everything, and the Riesling adds a steely top note. Impeccable balance. — 6 years ago
First encounter with Hsing. Philly cheesesteak. Beautiful nose of sage dark fruits violets. Lively texture. Almost old world. Turns out to be part of series AA and old bottle of it’s kind but with other vineyards. — 2 years ago
I had a nice bottle on Tempranillo at the Grape Stomp Saturday! — 5 years ago
I kiss this wine I kiss it up! This is stomp around my kitchen cheering myself drinking this as if i made it myself. My god it’s good. It is fascinating and balanced. It’s a gymnast that you watch and think...looks easy but...how’d that happen? Very cool wine. Cannot wait to try more Forlorn Hope. — 6 years ago
Cassis and pencil in the nose. Anise, cassis, plum and ripe raspberry. Perfect balance. — 7 years ago
Made from grapes that we got to foot tread when the came into the winery in Napa. The were freezing cold when they arrived and the whole clusters are sharp, feels like walking on legos but then the cold makes your feet go numb, and then you start sweating from the 45 minute stomp session. It’s quite a surreal feeling and such an incredible experience. This is the first bottle we’ve opened and we popped it for our 10th anniversary. The wine itself is incredible. Dark fruited and plush, fresh yet with hints of garrigue and smoked meats that will further develop with time. Perfectly balanced acid and the 100% WC has already integrated very nicely. Like all of @Mike Smith wines its beautiful now and will be great down the road. This is one we will cherish for years to come. — 4 years ago
Skin contact Blanc du Bois. Nice texture and acidity. Good effort from the folks at William Chris. — 7 years ago
Victor Hsu
Ficklin makes the best domestic Port I’ve tasted, and the 19 year-old Late Bottle Vintage I polished off is a nice example. Sweet but not cloying or heavy; this dessert wine has character, complexity and nuance. Heady nose and correct color but it’s the memorable flavor that really counts. Also memorable was the “grape stomp” my family enjoyed at their winery in 2010; on a subsequent visit we took home a few bottles of fermented and fortified juice stomped by our own feet. Great family fun. Savored the 2004 vintage of this LBV with blue cheese, honey and home-baked bread. — 2 years ago