She Oak Hill Vineyard

St Innocent Winery

Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019

John Howard
9.3

So good! Maybe 10% too much new oak but fab. — 3 months ago

Doug, Dave and 9 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@John Howard, I just opened a 1999 St. Innocent Temperance purchased on release, the oak and (probably more in the old days) structure mellowed with enough aging. The 1990s St. Innocent reds always seemed very structured to me (same winemaker, Mark Vlossak), but the few newer (say last 6-8 years) bottles friends have shared showed me Mark has been making the wines with riper/more polished tannins (I’m not a winemaker, so there may be a better term than my description. The early St. Innocent Pinots (1991 7 Springs, 1990 O’Connor (it’s the “Z***” vineyard now, same real estate), and 1993 Pinots) were really incredible wines, but they needed 10-20 years (or more for 7 Springs (now 7 Springs and Anden following a divorce of the vineyard owners)!! Cheers!
John Howard

John Howard Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers so cool! This one was great.

Stony Hill

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2015

Pop and pour. A majestic medium gold color. On the nose: apple, lemon, crushed granite, vanilla oak, herbs, ripe peach. Taste: silky composed wine with apple, lemon, minerals, saline, lime peel, white pepper, and some tangerine. YUM! plenty of acidity and entering a waxy phase as it ages. — 8 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Tom, Brenda 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 — 3 years ago

Lingua Franca

Bunker Hill Chardonnay 2022

Mary H
9.1

Slightly older vines (1995) from South Salem, slightly higher elevation. Creamy from new French oak. — 3 months ago

Elephant Hill

Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022

Dark cherry and tart red fruits, some nice oak barrel notes add structure and depth, great acidity, longish finish, excellent New Zealand Pinot Noir!! — 4 months ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Aravind, jesus and 3 others liked this

Chalk Hill

Estate Bottled Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2022

A Fav! Medium lemon color with aromas of stone fruits, spice, floral, cedar, biscuits and citrus. On the palate flavors of apple, pear & ripe apricot with citrus zest, honeysuckle and nutty toasty oak notes, rich with creamy tones. Smooth, long finish, well balanced with acidity, ending with fruit and integrated creamy oak. Nice! — 8 months ago

Rob, ESF and 4 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

St Innocent Winery

Dijon Clone Freedom Hill Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

Pale lemon color with aromas of ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and nutty scents. On the palate complex flavors of apple, peach, pineapple and lemon citrus, cinnamon notes, well balanced with acidity on a nice mouthfeel. Long finish ending with oak, vanilla, mineral and citrus notes, will continue to age. A beautiful Chardonnay. — 4 months ago

Ira, Tom and 1 other liked this

Cakebread Cellars

Vine Hill Ranch Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Procured via auction. Have had bad bottles before but cork looked solid (used Durand to take no chances).

This bottle was excellent and the wine developed nicely in the glass over about 1.5 hours. Kept in my ETO.

Nice black and dark fruits with a little muscle. Oak integrated and not overpowering.

Lovely pairing with steak.
— 6 months ago

Bob, Jean-Philip and 4 others liked this

Philip Togni Vineyard

Tanbark Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Somm 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.
— 2 years ago

Paul, Shay and 10 others liked this