Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Merry Christmas 2025! 🎅🎄🎁 🍷 ❄️ ⛄️

As I have said, Charles Hendricks is my favorite new world winemaker for Malbec. This 12 is perfect with chocolate truffles.

Many would not get this blind. They would call Napa Cabernet or Napa Bordeaux blend.

It is around its precipice. Ripe, juicy, lush fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, strawberries, blueberries, mocha powder, dark chocolate to chocolate mousse, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, dry top soil, moist to dry clays, tumbleweed, some light dry herbs, chard barrel shavings, dark spices, black tea, black licorice, dark cola, dry, crushed limestone/rocks, leather, dry tobacco, dark, withering flowers, liquid violets-lavender, grand, round, acidity, well; balanced, structured, tensioned with a polished/elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on spice & dry earthiness. — 11 days ago

Ira Schwartz

9.4

Oh so young, but oh so good. Into the decanter it went. As one would expect tight during the first 30 minutes but then it started to strut its stuff. Powerful citrus aromas. On the first taste after decanting citrus & florals commandeered my tastebuds. At this young stage the finish is filled with orchard fruit vs chalk or wet stone. — 2 months ago

Mike Obley

9.4

Way too young! — 3 months ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.2

This magnum showed more advanced than expected, based on the previous one.
Nevertheless, this was rounded, rich, mineral and a only touch nutty. — 12 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red fruits with wild flowers, tobacco, eucalyptus, light earth, licorice, light oak, spices and herbs.

Medium plus in body and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with red cherries, currants, plums, licorice, light oak, spices, chocolates, red candy, tobacco leaf, light earth, herbs and light black tea.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is still very young and needs some bottle time to mature properly, but already drinking beautifully.

Rich, yet elegant. Fruit forward, Nicely balanced and easy drinking. Spicy and entertaining.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Showing good potential to become a 94 point wine.

Showing lots of red fruits, especially on the nose, which surprised me a bit. A different style of Napa Cabernet, and very unique.

Needed 3 hours in the decanter to open up. Complex and engaging.

A good sipping wine that will pair nicely with food too.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 30 months in (80% new) French Oak barrels. A small production of 7,200 bottles.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$230. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

This wine is in a perfect place. 2008 is not as regarded as 2007, but this 2008 made by Charles Hendricks is saying differently & absolutely one of his very best. I would say, James & Coleen made a mistake in letting him get away.

It is sort of a Mother Mary of God wine. Not to be religious, just the phrase fits.

Our eyes & ears perk up when we hear Napa names like; Harlan, Scarecrow, Hundred Acre, Bond & Colgin. I’d like to put this in blind and watch the shock & awe in everyone eyes when the wines were revealed.

The palate entry is perfect in every way. It is rich, lush, extremely balanced with well rounded, velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries, baked strawberries framed in raspberry edges. Some of the most amazing, dark spices with palate heat, melted, dark chocolate to pudding, black licorice to anise, mocha, malt balls, caramel, mid baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, fresh & used tobacco, leathery, graphite, crushed rocks & limestone, sage brush, slightly, candied, dark & withering flowers set in understated violet’s & lavender, warm, summer, rainfall acidity, balance for days, excellent structure/tension with elegance and smart polish that lasts minutes and settles on beautiful spices.

This wine is at its precipice and will hold a few more years with good drinking for 8-10 years. — 4 months ago

Michael Fiur

10

Sandbar Anguilla 1/2/25 — 3 days ago

Sean Burke

9.2

Love. Montage Utah — 23 days ago

Marty G

8.9

Great value for the price — 2 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Super clean and light with steeliness and light lime color. Much fresher than the 09. Zippy with rock pools, green apple. Almost Riesling like in its precision. Light on its feet despite its depth. — 3 months ago

with Paul and Ara