Jay Kline

9.0

Not sure why @Delectable is yelling at me that’s this is a Gamay and Pinot Noir blend, but here we are.

“Aux Poirlots” is a selection of old vine Gamay and younger Pinot Noir from the Aux Poirlots lieu dit in M-S-D. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2019 pours a dull garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with funky strawberry and Montmorency cherry, black plum, dried red and purple flowers, mushroom, sous bois and pasture land. On the palate, the one is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Loaded with rustic charm, I adore H. Lignier’s Passetoutgrain. Drink now through 2029. — 5 months ago

Tim L

9.1

Big, big wine, big dark berry flavor, big alcohol 15.9%! BUT…very drinkable, balanced, smooth on the palate California Zin from Sonoma Co., Dry Creek Valley. Old vine Mother Clone truly means something fine here… — 3 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Nose is apple. Baked apple. A hint of orange peel. As this opens lemon flower perfume. 9.7 nose.

Palate: baked apple with spice Very clean. Quince. Nice clean density.

Fass selections. — 3 years ago

Amanda

8.9

Great wine for the price — 6 years ago

Connor Smith

9.5

#Nebbiolo is a surprisingly rare grape. Even in its native Piedmont, it accounts for only 8% of vineyard land. There are fewer than 100 hectares planted in the United States. 🕵️‍♂️🍇
Over 80% of prewar Italian immigrants came from Sicily and Southern Italy. Piedmont was the wealthiest and most politically dominant region. But if fortunes were reversed, could Nebbiolo have taken Primitivo/Zinfandel’s place as a grape relatively uncommon on the boot but dominant in California? 🤔🇮🇹🇺🇸
Probably not. The Nebbiolo vine is *not* for beginners. It flowers early and ripens late, making it susceptible to both spring and autumn frosts. It loves the occasional fog bath (some say the name is derived from ‘nebbia’, Italian for fog ☁️☁️☁️) but is prone to the mildew that may result from such humid conditions. Its fussiness would make Pinot Noir blush: it demands southwesterly exposure, a proper gradient, constant sun above, and fog licking at its toes. #diva
Sound anything like California’s Central Coast? 🌅
In the Santa Maria Valley, where the East-West Transverse Range bends back into the North-South Coastal Range, it’s possible. Vineyard selection still requires extreme discretion - an eye like @JimClendenen’s, perhaps.
Jim began the Nebbiolo program at the legendary #BienNacido vineyard in 1994. Production is small, but if you track down his “The Pip” Nebbiolo, it will only run you about $30. You’ll believe anything is possible when you have real California Nebbiolo of this quality come wafting out of the glass at you! 🙌🙌
🏞.“The Pip” is named after Jim’s old cellar dog Pip, a border collie. So it only seemed right to include one of our own pips! 🐈 — 7 years ago

Donald Williams

9.4

One of the finest Zins made anywhere. — 8 years ago

with Bonnie

Michael Walker

10

PJW mag selection at RJW memorial - quintessential petite Syrah - super jammy despite 20+ years — 9 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2020 vintage. 100% Melon de Bourgogne. An old vine selection from 2 different vineyards with soils composed of shale and green rocks. Vinified and aged in "dolia" ( egg-shaped terracotta vats). Intriguing nose with exotic fruits, flowers, and a strong minerality, like a salty Condrieu if that makes any sense. Lots of flavour and intensity for such a low-alcohol wine ( 12,5 abv), with crisp white fruit, mouthwatering acidity, a subtle bitterness, and a long, saline finish. Gorgeous. Biodynamically farmed. — 2 years ago

Jess

9.2

Medium ruby color.
Aromas of red fruit, cherry.
Dry. Flavors of cherry, raspberry, cinnamon, soft clove. Medium-rich, velvety tannins. Delicious!

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 2/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 5/5 — 3 years ago

Gwendolyn Smith

9.5

Really good Spanish central market or specs — 5 years ago

Ericsson

9.5

Modern take on Ribera del Duero from select vineyards. The color is deep purple, indicative of the 60+ year old vine grape selection. An expressive nose with scents of black fruits, tobacco and leather. The mouthfeel is equally expressive with cherry, blackberry, oak, vanilla, and licorice. The tannings are soft for such a young Tempranillo, and it is not slander but quite the contrary, it allows for the elegant finish with finesse and length. Very exiting wine!
…
PS The mastermind/winemaker behind Aalto made his mark at Vega Sicilia for over 30 years. It is no surprise the wine is excellent; it will be exciting to see how the wine evolves over the next decade and how it will challenge some of the greatest wines produced in the region.
— 6 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.0

Very sneaky concentration to this old vine Sauvignon, which saw a 72-hour skin contact. The winemaking is deft, pure and restrained, letting the power speak for itself. Balanced by very fresh acidity. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On the nose, ripe, ruby, fruits of; mulberry, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, black cherries, blueberries & creamy raspberries. Vanilla, hints of sweet tarriness, black licorice, whiff of spice, soft understated limestone minerals & crushed rock powder, fruity black tea, hint of fresh herbaceousness, rich, black turned earth, fresh dark floral bouquet and fields of lavender & violets.

The body is rich, ripe & full. The tannins are a little sticky but well softened, round and a touch chewy. The structure, tension, length, balance, tension and balance are very close to perfect and harmonious. Fruits are; mulberry, huckleberry, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, black cherries & creamy raspberries. Vanilla, hints of sweet tarriness, black licorice, whiff of spice, soft understated limestone minerals & crushed rock powder, fruity black tea, hint of fresh herbaceousness, rich, black turned earth, fresh dark floral bouquet and fields of lavender & violets. The acidity is round and rains like a waterfall perfectly over the palate. The very long, ruby, rich, well balance lasts minutes and is absolutely heavenly. Gorgeous, elegant, stunning wine.

Photos of; the vertical tasting we attended of all Hendricks Cabernets; 04, 05, 09 & 12 at the time w/ one of our favorite paintings in the background, Charles Hendricks working in the cellar, very old rootstock from the Stag’s Leap Vineyard where the fruit to make this wine normally comes from and a wide shot of the Stag’s Leap Vineyard.

Producer notes and history...Hendricks Cabernet Sauvignon is consistently sourced from a few of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards. In those near perfect vintages, Charles only makes a small production wine of around 250-300 cases. Charles only produces it when he has exception fruit. He’s made Hendricks Cabernet in; 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012 & 2014. Notice he didn’t make Hendricks Cabernet in a great vintage year like 2013. He wasn’t happy enough with his fruit in 2013 to put his name on it. That says a lot and maybe all you need to know about his standard for quality. I do know what wine his 13 fruit made as I’ve had and it’s an unbelievable wine for far less money.

Charles also makes a fantastic Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands that is really quite amazing. Especially, if you give it 5 or 6 years in bottle. All his wines are sold exclusively through the Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville as he is also the Hope & Grace Winemaker.

Charles graduated in 1982 from UC Davis in viticulture. He was also able to tailor his own curriculum and was one of the earliest to integrate winemaking and viticulture course work. Having knowledge of both viticulture and enology forms the basis for his well-rounded winemaking.

Over the years Charles has worked in both Napa and Sonoma Counties, gaining hands on experience in all aspects of winemaking. He has a strong reputation for excellence. In his career, he’s been a consulting winemaker for many wineries; Viader, Barnett Vineyards, Paoletti Vineyards, Regusci Winery, James Cole, T-Vine and Tamayo family Vineyard.

I asked Charles, “how does he make wines that are amazingly good in their youth but will age effortlessly for 15-20 years?” His answer was simply this, “its not that hard, you just have to know the perfect time to harvest fruit.” I would agree with that to a degree. But, you also have to know how to gently guide fruit onto it’s path into the barrel and not get in the wine’s way or overwork the process. — 8 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Hebrart: Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. No formal notes. As the name suggests, this is a selection of Jean-Paul’s favorite sites. In this case, old vine sélection massale from: Faubourg d’Enfer, Pruches, Haut Varille, Croix Blanche, Maladrie, Beauregard, Ramonette, Bisson St-Loup, Côtes, and Sente des demoiselles. All 1er cru sites, obviously and roughly 3/4 Pinot Noir with the balance Chardonnay. It’s delicious. In the Hebrart style, this is fresh with loads of bright raspberry fruit, citrus and minerals along with great acid and good bubbles. Drink now through 2037. Disgorged April of 2021 and based off the 2017 vintage. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Delectable - this is the Sami Odi Our Hill Cuvée. Notes later. 2021 vintage. This is the 2nd ever vintage of Our Hill from Sami-Odi from Shiraz grapes grown in the Eden Valley. The 3rd vintage released earlier this year only had a production of around 280 bottles (weather problems - hail) and sold out in under 30 minutes. I missed out. Delectable has done well to recognise this bottle - very cryptic even on Fraser McKinley’s highly cryptic labelling standards. I made a note of the first Our Hill about 93 weeks ago. All whole bunch vinification. Quite rich for an Eden Valley Shiraz. Interestingly Fraser says “Our Hill “ is best enjoyed over the next few years in its youth (finest on the day of opening) contrary to the old vine Hoffmann wines. Reminiscent of Henschke Mount Edelstone in some respects without the longevity of Edelstone probably. Delicious nonetheless. Had another 2021 Our Hill 57 weeks later on 3rd April 2025 with consistent notes. I tried to make a brand new note but Delectable could not recognise the bottle photo so I have just added to this old note. Same score. Ended up having my 3rd and final bottle on 14th May 2025 with similar notes - much more savoury than fruit driven. I agree with Fraser’s comment - best to drink young rather than cellar this wine. — 2 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.1

Deep red brick color. Smells just a hint like some fruity vinegar. Flavors are complex and zippy. Juicy. A tad more going on than the Viano private stock Zin. Classic Contra Costa County old vine Zin. — 4 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.0

Very good selection, in the Under $10 range ($5.97 at Total Wines)

Having been to the Ravenswood winery, and trying a good portion of the portfolio, grabbing this was a no-brainer. Decanted for an hour, good fruit in the Boysenberry range (Blackberry x Raspberry, Loganberry being a similar hybrid), nice spicey character. Would purchase again in the price range.

Ravenswood has a nice portfolio, and I hope after this Pandemic period, Gina Gallo opens the doors to the tasting room once again. — 6 years ago

Aaron Forel

8.9

Very fine wine, one of the finest blend. Recommended — 7 years ago

Carolyn Frawley

9.2

Smooth. Good smell. No alcohol taste. Old vine. — 8 years ago

Stephen Madarasz

8.9

2014 vintage. Very enjoyable. Big and fruity. A JP selection. — 8 years ago