Hendricks Wines
Hendricks Wines
Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2014
The Hendricks Pinot from the Doctors Vineyard in Santa Lucia. 11 barrels made. 22 months in French oak. I don’t know what everyone is used to but a Pinot 22 months in French oak is far more rare than common. This is my first look from the four bottles I’ve stored. Roughly eight years is the timing for first look.
This may be the best CA Pinot I have consistently yr over yr. The fruit is ripe, dry-ish, slightly tart; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, notes of blueberries, raspberries, dry cranberries & strawberries. Beautiful mid spices, nutmeg, cinnamon-cinnamon stick, vanillin, mid to dark berry cola, dry brush, dry clay, loamy, limestone volcanics, dark, dry soil, dark chocolate baking bar, crushed dry rocks, notes of not quite eucalyptus, tree bark w/ sap, fresh & slightly withering, dark, red, blue florals framed in subtle violets, near perfect acidity with a nicely structured, well balanced, velvety/silky, consistent wire to wire finish that lasts a minute and half. Simply amazing palate.
Good first look but better things ahead for my next bottle(s). Another 15 plus years of half drinking ahead.
Happy Labor Day weekend. — 9 months ago
Hendrick's
Midsummer Solstice Limited Release Gin
Made the midsummer spritz as part of our summer solstice celebration last night. This rendition of Hendricks gin is lighter, crisp and deeply floral. The cocktail is made up of 50ml Hendricks midsummer gin, 50ml sparkling wine, 150 ml elderflower tonic garnished with cucumber and orange slice. — 4 years ago
James Cole
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Mother Mary of God! Near Pomerol like. Charles Hendricks masterpiece. Menthol & a touch of mint.
Stunning vintage & wine.
This 07 is in perfect shape…at its peak. Still has 7 plus years of life.
Black raspberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, purple fruits, dark chocolate/pudding, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, softened, cinnamon stick, vanilla, dark, rich soils, moist, limestone mush, black tea, black licorice, bay leaf, salted caramel, dryish twig, menthol, mint, volcanic ash, sandalwood, dark withering to candied, red, blue florals, lavender framed in violets with perfect acidity and a amazingly, structured, well knitted/tensioned and elegantly polished finish that lasts minutes falling squarely on earthy minerality.
Second wine with an Allen Brither’s Ribcap recently bought on the secondary market for $55.
Photos of; James Cole on Silverado Trail, brass statue that is their bottle logo & their private tasting room. — 16 days ago
Regusci
Block 27 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Charles Hendricks last vintage at Regusci. 2013 a phenomenal vintage and this is in top form. Showing amazing fruit with his Regusci spice.
Charles Hendricks may be the most under appreciated Winemaker in Napa Valley.
What a well balanced, structured, mix of fruit, soft earthiness, spice and bright florals. — a year ago
James Cole
Napa Valley Petit Verdot 2009
It’s good to follow Winemakers. I follow Charles Hendricks. However, Charles last James Cole vintage was 2013.
100% Petit Verdot in anyone’s hands is tricky. This 09 made by Charles is elegant young...just as it is now. It’s just rounder & softer after 9 1/2 years in bottle. It still has teeth but, complex & floral with dark, grippy tarry, round tannins. The darkest of roasted & used expresso grounds, dry earth with dark & brilliant florals. Beautiful acidity and elegant persistent finish.
This offering has another 10-15 of good drinking ahead. Properly stored of course.
Photos of; James Cole Winery, outside tasting lounge, signature bronze logo statute and James’ classic car in their fermentation cellar. — 4 years ago
Regusci
Estate Bottled Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Charles Hendricks last vintage at Regusci and what a vintage 2013 was in Napa. If you’re are going to go out on a high note, 13 would be it. The most underrated Winemaker in Napa Valley.
Dark, ruby, lush, currents, raspberries, plum skin, strawberries, dark chocolate, lots of salted caramel notes, mid spice, tarriness, black licorice, soft dark earth with dry top soil, dry tobacco, used leather, vanillin, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, withering dark floral, lavender framed in violets, excellent acidity and great structure, tension, balance and perfectly polished for days. — 6 months ago
La Sirena
Knights Valley Malbec 2016
This is a very rounded, elegant and nicely polished Malbec. As you know, many Malbecs can be rugged and rough on the palate. Not the case here. This is the second Winemaker that I’ve had other than Charles Hendricks that knows how to make an elegant, soft and well rounded, brilliantly floral Malbec. Wire to wire this wine is beautiful, balanced with polish for days. River like acidity. — 4 years ago
Marcassin
Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010
Some friends of ours brought this to our backyard dinner last night. This is not a producer I buy. So, it was nice to revisit and nice of them to share.
The first thing I would say, is this is a well made Pinot Noir. Having said that, I don’t buy it due to its pricing. If you are buying this from the winery, its price point is still too high for it’s quality and gets worse yet when you go to the secondary markets which, many do, due to its limited production & wait on their list.
I say this because I have had countless examples of Sonoma & CA Pinot Noirs that are as good for $75 or around that price point give or take a little. The Hendricks Pinot from Santa Lucia is a similar style and for me, is better than this Marcassin. The Hendricks is $75 on futures buying.
Our friends that brought it, whom we share a mutual friendship with another Sommelier. He told them they had to drink this as it was getting old. I can tell you that is simply not the case. This wine has another 7-10 years of fine drinking ahead. These statements happen when your consuming wine regiment is based on a steady stream of always drinking wines young...It just happens.
The wine shows beautiful mid & dark candied, floral fruits, heavy baking spices and too much cinnamon stick for me. Beautiful, dark, red, blue and purple florals. It is well balanced, lush, elegant, polished with nice round acidity.
A very nice wine just overpriced IMHO. You can do just as well for less and you would only lose out on the fact you are feeling good about opening a cult name Pinot for yourself or to impress others. Not a dig, just the wine psychology that experience has led me to through the devotion of studying wine and consumers feedback. Not all, but enough to call it what it is. I myself have fallen prey to those emotions & I’m sure will again.
Photo of, Marciassin Winery, Helen Turley-Co Owner, Ryan O'Donnell-Winemaker and a Sonoma vineyard they source fruit. — 4 years ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
A Charles Hendricks wine.
Medium plus tannins. Ripe, rich, floral fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, black plums/ extra skin, dark cherries, plum pudding, dark spice with heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, mid berry cola/licorice, dark rich soil with dry leaves, dry tobacco, dry twig, cedar, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, fresh to candied; dark, red, purple flowers, round, sharp acidity, highly structured, well tensioned, balanced finish that lasts two-minutes and lands on minerals.
Good tonight…better in 5-7 years.
Photos; James Cole, Silverado sign, bronze logo statue and private tasting room. — 8 days ago