Doug Powers

9.5

This is the same wine I reported on last fall, and this bottle is even better — while I purchased other vintages of Stony Hill Chardonnay that didn’t show this amount of longevity, this vintage is again fabulous, now at age 23. Color looks like a 5-7 year old Chardonnay, fabulously complex nose of minerals and floral notes, on palate remarkable freshness and youth, I think this is at or near peak, but this is simply amazing for aged Napa Chardonnay, WOW!!! — a day ago

with Jim

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Bruce Phillips and his wife were pouring their 2021. Talked w/ him at length. Very nice couple.

The 2021 showed well young with room for improving with 10-25 years in bottle and beyond. It showed some evolution, wasn’t all primary. Elegant, very well balanced with excellent structure and finish. Drink 2033-45 properly stored.

The general Napa consensus on 2022 vintage will be a story of did you pick before or after the 6 days of extreme heat during the harvest window. One producer told me his would add 5% of 2023 to some of his 2022’s, which is allowed. He mentioned that he was going to add 15%. But, I think he just misspoke? Get ready for an amazing 2023 vintage from Napa. It was a cooler, not hot-hot, which was a near perfect growing season for long slow even ripening. Some say a vintage of a lifetime and others would only say exceptional.

The Saturday-Sunday Pavilion tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine is an excellent four hours to taste a lot wine, taste curated dishes from chefs from all over the country and meet the people behind the bottle. These short ribs were one of the top two or three things I tasted at the Pavilion Saturday. — 3 months ago

Byron Hewett

9.2

Infanticide. This changed a lot in the glass. A lot going on here, but we didn’t do it justice by drinking it so young. Green apple, coconut, lychee. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

This 5-year-old Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast is drinking very nicely now. Spicy and fruit forward.

Light to medium in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with some complexity.

Showing raspberries, cherries, red currants, spices, tobacco, light wood, chocolates and light earth.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

Soft, smooth and good right out of the bottle. Easy drinking and good for parties.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$25. — 19 hours ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Dark Ruby color with aromas of ripe berry fruit and herb spice. On the palate flavors of ripe cherry and blackberry with leather, tobacco and cacao notes. Dusty fine tannins, medium+ finish ending rich with herb mineral spice. — 18 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

A pale crimson with a tawny edge - almost transparent. A high quality Pinot Noir from Canterbury wizards Marcel Giesen and Sherwyn Veldhuizen. As I said last tasting note - pale but powerful. As good a new World Pinot Noir as you will find, and this is Bell Hill’s second wine. I can’t improve on the previous Delectable note from October 6 2023. These wines from Bell Hill aren’t cheap but are a lot cheaper than good Burgundy. — 4 months ago

Eric Urbani

9.3

A exploration of nine 1999 Cote Rotie - Syrahs and Shiraz on their 25th anniversary. Another Aussie ended up being my #2 — 4 months 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. — a month ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on March 15, 2024 at Richland Country Club in Nashville]

49% Cabernet Sauvignon; 21% Malbec; 17% Merlot; 8% Petit Verdot; 4% Syrah; 1% Carmenere. Chalk Hill AVA is a sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley AVA and is known for its chalky white ash soils. Restrained red currant fruit with mineral and graphite notes. Balanced and Bordeaux-like. — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.5

This is a delicious red blend from Napa Valley.

Dry on the palate and very fruity with medium acidity.

Showing black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, light cola, coffee, earth, chocolates, mocha, peppercorn, herbs and Mediterranean spices.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 10 year old is drinking so very nicely now. Elegant and delectable. Fruit forward and engaging.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Spicy and very complex.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes in the bottle. Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

A gorgeous wine at this point. Easy drinking and dangerously good.

Good by itself, and paired deliciously with the leg of lamb.

A blend of 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Petite Sirah, 24% Merlot, 18% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec.

15% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$30 (at release). — 4 months ago