Black Dog Hill Vineyard

Rutherford Hill

Napa Valley Merlot 2019

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim. Pretty color, but looks much older than it is.

Muted on the nose with black fruits, light wood and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with plums, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, licorice, light earth, herbs, spices, pencil lead, chocolates, light tobacco and peppercorn.

Medium minus in length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice entry level Merlot from Napa Valley. Smooth and elegant with nice complexity.

Nicely balanced and fruit forward. Rich and spicy with a nice mouthfeel.

This 5 year old is peaking now and will not continue to improve.

Good right out of the bottle and easy drinking. A good pop and pour kind of wine, but better after 30 minutes of airtime.

Wine Spectator 91 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. A good party wine.

A blend of 77% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Syrah.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$37.
— a month ago

Bob, Ted and 8 others liked this

Cobb

Jack Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

David T
9.3

Cobb is another solid producer of CA Pinot Noir. A 14 acre parcel bought in 1988 by Ross Cobb and began making wine in 1989.

The nose reveals ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; poached strawberries, blackberries, dark cherries, raspberries, hints of blueberries, uncooked rhubarb, tree bark w/sap, hints of eucalyptus, smoky characteristics, lightly grilled meats, black pepper, red licorice/cola, understated baking spices, dry top soil w/ crushed rocks, light, fresh tobacco, volcanic ash and fresh; dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets.

The palate is ripe, juicy and very elegant. Fruits are; ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; poached strawberries, blackberries, dark cherries, plum, raspberries, hues of blueberries, uncooked rhubarb and pomegranate juice. Tree bark w/sap, hints of eucalyptus, smoky characteristics, lightly grilled meats, black pepper, red licorice/cola, understated baking spices, dark, moist spice, very, dry, dusty top soil w/ crushed rocks, crumbled volcanics, dry, grey clay, light, fresh tobacco, cigar & volcanic ash and fresh; dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets. The excellent acidity runs like a cool mountain river with a well knitted, structured, balanced, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts over a minute landing on soft minerality & spice.

This 14 has another 4-5 years of good drinking before it starts its gentle decline.

Photos of the Jack Hill Vineyard, winery gate and founder Ross Cobb.
— 4 months ago

Paul, Tom and 17 others liked this

Bell Hill Vineyards

Canterbury Pinot Noir 2012

We opened the bottle for an hour before dinner. Initially a powerful aroma of blackberries flooded the dining room. Slowly it mutated to black and red cherries with earth. Multi layered complexity the wine was an absolute pleasure to drink with. If you look at QPR it would@blow all burgundies out of the water! Simply sensational! — 2 years ago

Ira liked this

Bucklin

Old Hill Ranch Ancient Field Blend Zinfandel 2020

15.3% ABV Dark red color, legs, black & red fruit. Nice long finish. — 2 months ago

Philip Togni Vineyard

Tanbark Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

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.
— 3 months ago

Paul, Shay and 10 others liked this

Vine Hill Ranch

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

This wine rocks. Gripping wine.

Raspberry and some black fruits. Very dense and structured.

Held up well with heavy Italian food

Softening with airtime. Around 3 hour mark - provides some interesting elegance with drying tannins.

A winner for the birthday queen
— 6 months ago

Eric, Ethan and 1 other liked this

William Hill Estate Winery

Bench Blend Napa Valley Red Blend 2014

This is a delicious red blend from Napa Valley.

Dry on the palate and very fruity with medium acidity.

Showing black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, light cola, coffee, earth, chocolates, mocha, peppercorn, herbs and Mediterranean spices.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 10 year old is drinking so very nicely now. Elegant and delectable. Fruit forward and engaging.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Spicy and very complex.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes in the bottle. Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

A gorgeous wine at this point. Easy drinking and dangerously good.

Good by itself, and paired deliciously with the leg of lamb.

A blend of 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Petite Sirah, 24% Merlot, 18% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec.

15% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$30 (at release).
— 2 months ago

Philip, Paul and 8 others liked this

Penfolds

Koonunga Hill South Australia Shiraz Cabernet 2021

Deep purple in color; black cherries, cassis, and graphite on the nose; medium acidity; medium plus tannins; tastes like blackberry sauce, sweet tabacco, and a hint of camphor with a long finish. I really like this wine. — 3 months ago

Riverain Vineyards

Cardiac Hill Bennett Valley Syrah 2012

Black cherries and black olives. Quite good — 8 months ago

Tom liked this

Trinity Hill

Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2012

Medium deep ruby quite wide ruby , pink rim . Quite peppery black cherry jam , smoky bacon , dried herbs , touch of violet . On the palate quite cool and refreshing , those dark cherry fruits and black pepper notes , touch of anis and herbs . Quite prominent acidity and linear in mouth feel , slightly bitter quite dry tannins, balanced alcohol . Ok length with a peppery , quite lean finish . Elegant and reserved in style . This is drinking well now and over the next 5 years. — 10 months ago

Daniel, Tom and 2 others liked this