Shay A

9.3

Compared to the 2018 Lancel Creek I opened last year, this was a bit more coiled and shy (and this is already my second check-in with this wine). As a fun side by side, I had a 2019 Arista UV-Diablo Chardonnay open (same winemaker)…not the same vineyard, but the Arista showed more expressive fruit earlier on.

As is typical for this wine, it was faint straw colored in the glass with honeysuckle, sea spray and bright lemon pastry aromatics. Signature nervy acidity is apparent right off the bat without being a detractor. Yellow fruits abound alongside herbs and faint meringue with texture that straddles the middle beautifully. Long finish with mineral notes and nice weight (oak use is balanced).

Followed over two days and it certainly fleshed out and presented more “soft” (in a good way). Healthy decant now or keep tucked away a bit longer. — 9 days ago

Jan de Weerd

9.2

Nice, fresh and vibrant Sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. Gooseberry (reminded me of growing up on the farm at home) and hints of subdued grapefruit. Beautiful light gold color, crystal clear. Not from Marlborough on the northern end of the South Island but Martinborough on the North Island. Very interesting region that grows all their grapes on a strip of 3-4 miles long and 1-2 miles wide raised tectonic plate of alluvial gravel. Pinot noir is king in this region, but this Sauvignon blanc was also very nice. — 3 years ago

with Tammy

Jay Kline

9.2

My first time trying the 2017 Estate, the latest release from this tiny yet remarkable producer way up on Bonny Doon Road. The wines from McHenry vineyard typically show their best with 5-10 years of age but I love to try them in their youth, you know...for science. I opened this bottle about three hours before dinner and allowed it to slow-ox in the cellar. At first, the aromas were predominately red fruited in profile; strawberries and spices…almost like a Christmas fruitcake. However, the profile evolved in the glass and with more air, this began to take on a darker fruit profile that I find to be more characteristic of McHenry’s wines. This is a beautifully perfumed wine. On the palate, this is very bright and full of precocious energy. Plums and red berries with baking spices and minerals. Tannins are medium at best but there is no shortage of acid, which is a hallmark for this estate, ensuring that the 2017’s will in all likelihood enjoy a long life. Excellent now and likely to be a stunner down the road. Only 100 cases were made. — 4 years ago

Doug Powers

9.8

This bottle is absolutely staggeringly great, road tar, floral, depth, balance, super long finish, great wine!! — 4 months ago

with Jim

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Located in the western end of Dopp Road where the Chehalem Mountains converge with Ribbon Ridge, medium Ruby with aromas of red fruits and enticing spice. On the palate flavors of raspberry and wild cherry with pepper, toasty spice and earthy notes. Young with fine integrated tannins, well defined, elegant with underlying richness, long finish ending with oaky notes. Nice value, will age well! — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Sette Ponti or "seven bridges," refers to 7 bridges crossing the Arno River on the road from Arezzo to Florence. Blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cab Sauv & 10% Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in new French oak. Very dark Ruby with pronounced aromas of dark fruits, cigar box & earthy notes, touch of floral citrus. Flavors of black cherry & blackberry with tobacco & spice. Fine tight tannins, long finish ending with cacao, tobacco & mineral spice as the finish builds. Decant now! Will continue to age! — 3 years ago

Paul K

9.2

Bright cherry, black raspberry, blackberry, tobacco, and a little forest floor funk at the end. It’s got good balance and a nice, long finish.
Rich, full bodied. It has all the elements. I read the other reviews and it feels like I’m drinking a different wine. The last one was 3 years ago, so maybe time in the bottle.
This is really good. A little disappointed with this because expectation of price, vintage, and vineyard, but I still really enjoy it. Gone back and forth between 91 and 92. — 4 years ago

Steve Messinger

9.3

Classic black cherry nose w hint of spice and oak. Great balance rich long finish — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

If you’ve been following me on CT or Delectable for while, you’ve probably read some of my tasting notes on the Pinot Noirs from McHenry Vineyard. Few are aware that this special vineyard, way up on Bonny Doon Road, even exists. Fewer probably know that the McHenry family have been quietly producing wine from this vineyard for over 40 years. It has never been easy. Not only are the vines own-rooted, they have also had to deal with some devastating fires over the years. And yet, despite the challenges, the McHenry’s remain committed to growing Pinot Noir and making truly special wine.

As I have mentioned in the past the winery was destroyed by the CZU Lightening Complex Fire in August of 2020. The vines survived but no wine from the vineyard was made that year (obviously). While the winery gets rebuilt, the fruit from the McHenry Vineyard has been made with care by their neighbor, Ryan Beauregard. The McHenry’s are still making a lot of the decisions but they are working around the Beauregard’s schedule. 2021 represents the first year of this collaboration and the results are nothing short of incredible.

Popped and poured; consumed over the course of a week with the help of a “Repour” stopper. A little austere on Day 1 but it was obvious the quality was super high and unmistakably McHenry. As hilarious as this may read, this was best on Day 7. The 2021 Swan Clone pours very pretty ruby with medium viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with beguiling aromas of the tiniest forest strawberries, dark cherries, anise, some tomato leaf, some beets, a touch of clove, a mix of red and purple flowers, limestone minerals and some beautiful, soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish lasts forever and it’s got a lovely savory thing going on. This is a wow wine with a long, bright future ahead. You can drink now with patience but this will drink best after 2026 and probably be stunning through 2040. How will I keep my hands off my remaining bottles? Only 100 cases were produced.
— 9 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

Vivid magenta. Perfumed red berry, cherry and floral scents are complemented by smoky mineral and spice flourishes that build in the glass. Sweet and energetic on the palate, offers raspberry, cherry, spicecake and candied rose flavors that open up slowly on the back half. Finishes long, smooth and floral, with slow-building tannins adding framework and gentle grip. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago