David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy birthday honey. 🎂🥳🎉❤️

The Chateau that got my wife Sofia to finally love Bordeaux (1995). Expected more from the this property in 2000. But 2000 is still either the stubborn I think it is or just not as good as critically advertised. 20 years in bottle and think it needs at least 10 more years. Also, a touch of v/a-bandaid. It has nice balance with soft fruit & earth. It just lacks the wow factor for the property & vintage. Maybe, it is in a dumb faze. But, I’ve been waiting 20 years for 2000 to come out of its shell. I love this property but it is not up to its reputation…even for lesser vintages. It might be outstanding in another 20. This bottle is a little flawed and perhaps maybe (?) a better 2nd day wine. Tonight it is leaner than I would expect. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries. Sweet lead pencil, charcoal, volcanic ash, spice, nutmeg, some cinnamon, vanillin, dry tobacco, sandalwood, limestone, dry crushed rocks , dry pebbles, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, dry herbs, hints of Worcestershire sauce, moist clay, withering mid floral bouquet with excellent acidity and a wire to wire finish that is balanced, nicely tensioned and elegance that lasts minutes. One of the few slightly flawed bottles in 25 plus yrs of collecting. I can count them on just over one-hand.

Picture of Sofia picking the 2012 Mouton Rothschild Merlot. — 6 months ago

Joe Fischer

9.0

Decided to try this one that has been on the shelf awhile for NYE. Quite nice with a very yeasty, flint, and smoke aroma. Nice Fizz. Yellow-green in color. The cork is a bit unusual as it is held on with a rope as opposed to a wire cage. Smooth with a slight salinity and nice finish. — 2 years ago

Aravind A

9.8

I was tasting with Bruno Clair a few years ago, and we were talking about a people who will remain unnamed...and Bruno said: "Ils n'ont aucun plaisir dans la vie"...we agreed. This wine is the cure to that...pure pleasure without being over the top. On the nose: black pepper, game bird, cocoa powder, cinnamon and nutmeg...this is an intoxicating perfume. On the palate: fantastic acidity, sultry and seductive, soft cocoa powder, black raspberry and pomegranate molasses, black pepper...savory and sweet at the same time. With more time, soft clove appears. Soft tannin on the long finish. Utterly spectacular, and disappeared so quickly. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Its been awhile since I’ve opened a Geyserville. This is the 2015 50th Anniversary. Young for me on this bottling. But, a decent first look. Still shows some astringency. This will age like a Cabernet if stored correctly. 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Syrah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. 14.5% ABV. Never opened a bad bottle of Ridge.

It is ready to drink but will improve over time. It will age 15 plus years stored correctly. Black raspberries, blackberries, plum, boysenberries, dark cherries, spice, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, clay, dark chocolate, forest floor with dry leaves, caramel, malt balls, dry twig, light, soft pepper, dark, mid & purple florals for days-violets, excellent acidity and a pleasant wire to wire finish.

Excellent gourmet burger wine. — 10 months ago

Erica Wheeler

9.0

Spicy, easy to drink red. — a year ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

Nice light lemon color and citrus/lemon notes on the nose. Tons of tiny active bubbles. A bit clunky, but vibrant balanced mid-palate. Weightier than anticipated, but lots going on... pear, ripe apple, Meyer lemon and a touch of toasty fresh baked bread. Lacking the weightlessness and elegance of France, nonetheless a fun companion with King Crab Legs on an early Spring evening. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

A good follow up to the 2008 Forts de Latour.

Great bottle that shows beauty of the 2012 Napa Valley vintage managed by the right hands.

Charles Hendricks is maybe one of the most under the radar producers in the Napa Valley and certainly shouldn’t.

This wine is $125 in futures. I can think of other Napa Cabernets that cost much more that are not nearly as good.

Charles does not make this bottling every year...only when he has the right quality of fruit.

His wines always drink well young and will improve with the right bottle evolution depending on varietal and vintage.

This 12 is a gorgeous, sexy wine immediately upon entry. Beautiful round, supple tannins. Perfectly ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, plum and blueberries. Black licorice, sweet tarriness, Asian & Indian spices, just the right amount of barrel selection/toast that bring out soft baking spices of; cinnamon, nutmeg, clove & vanillin, soft earthiness of; dry crushed rocks, loamy soils, limestone & volcanics. Suede leather, some fresh tobacco & shades of graphite with fresh; dark, red, blue & purple florals. The acidity is round and near perfect. The finish is; elegant, well knitted & balanced in fruit in earth, polished and excellent wire to wire settling onto mid dark spice on the long set.

Photos of; the Hope & Grace tasting room in downtown Yountville (Charles makes H&G as well), Charles doing the heavy lifting of winemaking and my favorite Pollock like painting that used to be behind their tasting bar and now hangs in Charles house. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This is 50% Monastrell & 50% Petit Verdot.

This is nice and on latter side of its drinking window. Go figure w/ my palate. Brickish color on the edges. It is interesting, heady wine at this stage, soft, resolved with nice evolution and nothing that bites back. The benefit of drinking older wines. The nose is Spanish rustic. Understated fruits that are floral, slightly bright and yet have a stewy character. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate, stewed black plums/plums. Vanillin, mid fruit cola, soft tarry notes, anise, dark rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, hint of mint, light caramel notes, dry top soil, soft, old tobacco, dry twig, used leather with withering & candied; dark, red & blue flowers.

The palate is on the leaner side. Rustic fruits of ; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate, stewed black plums/plums. Vanillin, mid fruit cola, soft tarry notes, anise, dark rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, hint of mint, light caramel notes, dry top soil, soft, old tobacco, sandy limestone, dry twig, used leather with withering & candied; dark, red & blue flowers. The acidity is really good. The finish is well balanced with nice structure and similar wire to wire.

@Delectable this is the Pico Madama — a year ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.0

Sea breeze, lemon verbena, green melon, mineral (hint of flunky) and an almond/vanilla note.

Greek salad was one of the first foods I learned to “cook” for myself, and it’s still a go to for me: salty, crisp, simple, refreshing, much like this delightful Greek wine. And most of the time, that’s more than enough. Made from the much maligned Savatiano grape (for its unfortunate association with retsina). It reminds me more of a Gavi, (lower acid) Chablis, or Soave than Assyrtiko.

Also, the bird on the label is wearing a bowler hat which is fun. — 2 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

2005 such an amazing vintage.

The 05 Pipeau is a bottle that I’ve looked at in my EuroCave for awhile & have passed on it for bigger name producers. But, not tonight w/o disappointment. Especially, for $25 a bottle upon release.

It took a small glass & a few sips to get there. I’m there now.
.
Ruby, Claret in a classic style.

Showing the beauty of the age & vintage. Ruby, inky, ripe, slightly candied; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, raspberries, dried strawberries & notes of dry cranberries. Dry top soils, dark, rich, forest floor, river stones, dry tobacco, graphite, dark, grey volcanics, limestone/sandstone, anise to black licorice, dark, sweet tarriness, dry, dark dates, steeped tea with dark, withering florals that are also, red, purple and red. The acidity is mountain, cool, stream like and elegant finish that set nicely wire to wire with persistence.

Good first look and will drink well for another 15 years with proper storage.

Allen Brothers Ribcap...10 — 3 years ago