She Oak Hill Vineyard

Rutherford Hill

Napa Valley Merlot 2019

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.
— 3 months ago

Rob, Juan and 11 others liked this

Renato Ratti

Ochetti Langhe Nebbiolo 2019

Located halfway up the hill dominating the principal valley of Barolo, supported by steep slopes lined by orderly vineyards, lies the 15th century Abbey of Annunziata. Medium Ruby with aromas of ripe berry fruits with earthy herb notes, aged for 12 months on oak. On the palate flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry with sweet vanilla spice. Fine tannins, vivid acidity, medium+ finish ending with earthy fruit character. Good value, Barolo like without $$! — 2 years ago

Juan, Paul and 4 others liked this

Chappellet

Signature Donn Chappellet Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Founded by Donn and Molly Chappelet in 1967 on renowned Pritchard Hill. A blend of 82% Cab Sauv, 10% Petit Verdot & 8% Malbec. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, cedar, cacao and sweet herbs. On the palate rich flavors of blackberry and currants with sweet oak and herbs with a great mouthfeel. Tight tannins, a bit chewy, long ending with fruit, cacao and sweet oak. Will improve, just starting to drink well now! Decant! — 4 years ago

Eric, Juan and 12 others liked this

St Innocent Winery

Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015

This was a baby. Definitely needs some time to mellow down the new oak. Awesome wine nonetheless. — 4 years ago

Henschke

Hill of Grace Vineyard Shiraz 1996

Still a very dense crimson with no tawny rim, at 28 years of age but the tawniness is beginning. A certain feral, Animale, earthy note. Palate is ultra smooth, medium bodied / very savoury yet with a sweetish earthy note with a hint of raspberry. Jancis Robinson was invited by Stephen Henschke to a vertical tasting at the winery in May 2013 to cover vintages back to the late 1950’s. She described the 1996 as “pure hedonism “ and gave it 19/20. Medium plus intensity on the delicious palate with those gnarled old 160 year vines showing through. An absolutely stunning wine - one of the best we’ve had this year. — 7 months ago

David, Joe and 24 others liked this
Jan de Weerd

Jan de Weerd

Sensational. A rare moment. Really thinking about it. You were probably the only one in the world experiencing that wine.
Bob McDonald

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@Jan de Weerd Possibly Jan. Not sure of the Annual production but it wouldn’t be much as it is sourced from a single vineyard whereas Penfolds Grange has a far larger annual production having multiple vineyard sources.

Liquid Farm

White Hill Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 2015

Fabulous Chardonnay, ripe fruit, mild oak. — 2 years ago

Walter Scott

Freedom Hill Vineyard Chardonnay 2018

Flinty, reductive. Green. Acidic. Walnut skins. Oak. — 4 years ago

Tom, Brian and 30 others liked this

Philip Togni Vineyard

Tanbark Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

David T
9.2

Nice evolution and well integrated. 92 that pushes 93.

The other wine from the great Napa producer, Philip Togni.

The mouthfeel is supple, round, soft, yet meaty and tarry tannins. Ripe, juicy, rich; blackberries, baked plum for days, dark cherries, black raspberries, hues of raspberries & boysenberries. Black licorice, berry cola, muddy, volcanic clay, herbaceous notes, soft baking spices, slightly, melted chocolate, dark spice with a touch of heat, coffee, dry crushed, rocks, dry stem, dry tobacco, new leather, oak to cedar shavings, volcanic ash, dark, slightly withering, red, blue flowers framed in a field of endless violets, rainfall acidity, great balance, nice tension/structure and a smartly polished finish that last a full minute.

If you own, I would drink over the next 3-4 years before it starts to slide.

Photos of; Philip Togni vineyard, barrel room, vineyard soil & Philip Togni and his daughter Lisa.
— 9 months ago

Paul, Shay and 10 others liked this

William Hill Estate Winery

Bench Blend Napa Valley Red Blend 2016

Always well balanced and good, but not big on flavor or oak — 2 years ago

Hahndorf Hill Winery

GRU Adelaide Hills Grüner Veltliner 2019

Served blind by me at Sue Bell’s dinner party with Bruce Redman. After being tricked by Sue all week with blind tastings at the winery I was determined to get square. She was up to the task getting just the state wrong. Once I said Adelaide Hills she knew it was a Gruner. Hahndorf Hill are acknowledged as the best producers of Gruner in Australia. Taking its lead from the GV’s of Austria’s Kamptal region. Grapefruit, Citrus and stone fruit. A multi award winner on the Australian Show circuit. A gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards London 2020. — 4 years ago

Aravind, Daniel P. and 21 others liked this
Simon Gilligan

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@Bob McDonald have only had their Cabernet (which was quite delicious). Will have to find a bottle.
Bob McDonald

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@Simon Gilligan Quite close to a cellar door visit from where you live. Worth the trip to taste all their GVs. I was a bit disappointed with their Blaufrankisch but I don’t have much experience with this varietal.