Grace Glen

9.0

Delicious and full bodied. Black cherries, black currants, dark chocolate and hints of vanilla all stand out to me. — 2 days ago

with Chris

Jody Scharf

9.2

pleasantly surprisingly delicious 😋 — 2 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Light gold color, youthful. Cochey nose. Notes of match stick and petrol, citrus fruit, some gravel and dry dirt, and some tan spice. Rich and glycerol in the mouth. Lots of fruit and acidity. Missing a little in the mid palate but overall great stuff. — 4 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.1

Lighter bodied. Fruity of strawberry, hickory and a little funky woodsy, mushroom. Yum! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Happy New Year! 🎉🎊🎈🎆 🧨

1997 Jones Family, the year prior to TRB taking the helm and yet still a fantastic Napa vintage that is singing.

For me, this is classically styled Napa Cabernet. This is still not descending. Has another 5-8 years of good drinking and perhaps beyond.

Showing dark, meaty, dry, velvety tannins. Dark currants-blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, raspberries, plum pudding, chocolate mousse/cake, caramel, mocha powder, dark spice, dry top soil, dry, crushed rocks, anise, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, used leather, graphite, dry stone, volcanic clay, withering, dark, red, purple flowers, excellent round acidity and a well made, balanced, nicely tensioned, elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and falls onto earth & spice. — 4 months ago

David Kline

9.5

Black cherry and plum tart emerging through aromas of violets dotting brown breads, shiitake and black oak. Cinnamon, cedar and clove coalesce. Raspberry reduction with currants. Hints of mints. Tart cherry palate brings cherry reduction and black currants, tons of dark cedar wrapped cigar, tart blackberry, peppercorn and cinnamon stick. Green notes suggest this is still young and half-blossomed despite the quarter century. Grainy tannins, though rounded.



#pontetcanet #chateaupontetcanet #pauillac #appellationpauillaccontrôlée #1999 #1999bordeaux #bordeaux #misenbouteilleauchâteau #leftbank #leftbankbordeaux #bordeauxrouge #grandcruclasséen1855 — 2 years ago

Barry Grossman

9.1

Rich, smoky, meaty, but well balanced. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I would say this bottle sold on release for either side of $25. At this point, stunning with Chateaubriand.

This is at its peak. Excellent integration & evolution. It’s in its stupid faze.

The nose ripe blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, baked dark cherries & strawberries, pomegranate. Baking spices-clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanillin, dry herbs-sage, thyme, anise to black licorice, bight red, blue, purple florals,

The palate is ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, plum, strawberries, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, dark spice, dry twig, dark cola, black tea, anise to black licorice, crushed limestone, withering to dark, red flowers, perfect acidity, excellent tension, structure, balance and elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and lands on spice & earth.

Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 🎅 ❄️ ⛄️ — 4 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

The 4th vintage now of the greatest Bourgogne Blanc in the world. Just a massively complex nose of wet stones, incisive minerality, dash of oak, lime zest, lemon drop that is pure as the driven snow. Just a shockingly incredible nose that screams 1er cru Chassagne all the way. So layered and so deep a new nuance every time you stick your nose in the glass. The palate, as usual, overdelivers with just stunning concentration and lemon flesh intensity and drop dead, drool worthy purity. It’s round yet incredibly fresh and deep. What a finish that just lingers and lingers with a sweet lemon-lime intensity on a bed of minerals. Easiest 9.5 I’ve ever given. Wow what purity. Has that amazing combo of sweet, rich, salty and mineral. This is brilliant A1 winemaking. So slippery on the finish. This is wide open and more open than the 19 was at this phase of its evolution. Just a stunning stunning wine.

As this airs it gets more stunning. Tree bark, saline, iodine, white flowers and more! Superb concentration and density but also round and fresh. Lemony fruit but right now the salty sweet minerals abound. Just a miracle of a wine. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Charles strikes again.

I said weeks ago, I’d rather drink Charles Hendricks Pinot in futures @ $75 vs. the 09 Marcassin we had two weeks back @ $150+ winery or $225+ on the secondary market. This 14, while still young, proves that point and will only continue to get better.

It’s about as luxurious as Ca Pinot gets. Just supple, soft & elegant as body gets. Candied, floral fruits of ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, lean purple fruits, dry cranberries, strawberries, plums, delicate but darks spices, cinnamon stick, vanillin, nutmeg & touch clove, salted caramel, mocha powder, limestone & grey volcanics, dry crushed rocks hints of peppered grilled meats, fresh & dry tobacco, dry stems/twigs, sage dominated dry Provence herbs, splash of mint/eucalyptus, tree sap with bright candied, fresh & slightly withering florals of; dark, red, purple, blue set in a field of violets & some lavender. The acidity is perfect. The long finish is; extremely well balanced & polished, elegant, fresh, just the right amount of candied with a long, dark spice finish in the long set.

The 14 really started to excel after an hour plus in the decanter.

Photos of; the outside of the Hope & Grace tasting room in downtown Yountville where you will find Charles Hendricks wines. He makes Hope & Grace wines as well. One of my favorite paintings that used to sit behind their tasting bar but, is now in Charles house. It is very Pollock like! Winemaker/Co-owner Charles Hendricks and a vineyard in region of the Santa Lucia Highlands. — 5 years ago