David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

On a Charles Hendricks wines run here. An early finish at our rental property to attend our friends Christmas party.

Thought we’d check in on the 13. It’s still early on the Santa Lucia...needs another 3-5years in bottle.

The nose is; brooding, dark, rich, ripe, cassis. Well extracted blackberries, black cherries, black plum, plum, haunt blue fruits, black raspberries and poached strawberries. Notes of soft & elegantly, layered baking spices; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg. Dark chocolate, light caramel, understated dark spice, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dark, moist, turned earth, just a whiff of dry herbs, dry top soil, wet clay, dark fruit cola, some black licorice with fresh & withering dark, red & blue florals framed in violets & lavender.

The body is, rich, ripe, ruby & full. There is sandy/dusty tannin presence. The structure & tension are still quite pronounced. The length & balance are good but, still require some evolution. It is round, elegant and slides nicely across the palate. Dark, rich, ripe, cassis. Well extracted blackberries, black cherries, black plum, plum, haunt blue fruits, black raspberries, dry cranberries, poached strawberries & in and out raspberries qualities. Notes of soft & elegantly, layered baking spices; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg. Dark chocolate, light caramel, understated dark spice, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dark, moist, turned earth, dry herbs-bay leaf, a touch mint & eucalyptus, dry top soil, wet clay, dark fruit cola, some black licorice with fresh & withering dark, red & blue florals framed in violets & lavender. The acidity is round and holds the slightly higher alcohol in check. The nice, fruit finish is; plush, elegant, persistent, polished and then drifts into drier earthiness & dark spice. Better things ahead for this Charles Hendricks Cuvée in 3-5 years...picks up two score points.

Photos of, the exterior of the Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville, their tasting salon, one of my favorite paintings that used to sit behind their tasting room bar but, now resides in Charles house and the vineyard that the fruit for this wine is sourced in Santa Lucia. — 5 days ago

Shay A

9.3

November’s 4th Friday was a big hit. There is no way I’ll be able to upload all the wines, nor give them the reviews they deserve, but there were a few worthy of mentioning!

New wine to me but right up my Syrah alley. Not as much funk driven as it is savory driven. Leaps from the glass with whole cluster aromatics of stems, sweet peppercorn spice, and very pure rhubarb tart. Light on the palate with added floral notes, smoked meat, iron and a finish of black pepper. Would like to try this again. Thanks @Arden Barnett — 9 days ago

with Clare and Arden

"Odedi"

8.9

This is a nice red blend from Paso Robles. Showing Bing cherries, black currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, spices, coffee, tobacco leaf, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Smells like a Pinot Noir from Oregon. Doesn't taste like that though. A Very interesting wine.

A great Food wine. Needs a few hours to open up properly. A little unbalanced and better with food.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 53% Tannat, 21% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Verdot and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 18 months in oak barrels.

Next day update : it becomes balanced and enjoyable by itself.

14% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$30. — 6 days ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.3

Seriously dark with bursting aromatics of violets, black raspberry, coal and cocoa. Just insanely decadent and perfectly firm. I want to drink one of these each year over the next 15 years. It is so good now but I can only imagine what it will be in the future.
Am I the only one who thinks the Pisoni crew is making even better Syrah than Pinot? Call it croZes hermitage blind with new world richness — 4 days ago

Warren Rice

8.9

Another year in the bottle has made this a very nice wine. Hints of the fruit and sweetness mentioned in other reviews but the other grapes in the blend are more prominent now. Put Hahn back on my to order list. Paired with grilled pork chop. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Oh snap! My first time trying one of the 2017 Mataro’s from Sandlands and this San Benito County is fantastic! Beautiful, pure, fresh plums and other dark cherry with black pepper and other spices. It has an almost ferrous characteristic about it that I find quite charming. Lots of tannin and acid so let this be a note to those who are holding these in their cellar: just wait. This should be killer by 2022 but it’s already pretty exciting to drink. — 11 days ago

Jeremy Hollingsworth

8.9

Thanksgiving at its best. It’s always great to spend one more year with your dad as you get older enjoying great food and good wine — 14 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

The ‘Bossman’ is a stunning blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache and Viognier that was aged for twenty five months in 60% new French oak before bottling. High toned white flowers combine with lavender and blackberry compote on this expressive nose. The palate is deep, layered and exceptionally good as the wine delivers rich black fruits that mingle with shades of creosote, baking spices and mocha. Fantastic in its youth, the ‘Bossman’ tells you that it has a long way to go in the bottle. Drink 2019-2035- 94
— 2 hours ago

Kimberly Anderson

9.1

Opened this at 4pm for a party at 6:30. One taste and I knew I had not allowed enough time. Wound tight. Decanted/aerated 8 times over the next two hours and it worked. While, no where near it’s peak, it was enjoyable. Black fruit, black olive, smoked meat, dried herbs. Needs at least 5 more years in the cellar. — 5 days ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.1

2015 vintage. Dark and exotically aromatic. Fig, mullberry, blueberry compote, star anise, purple basil, fresh violets, allspice, incense, orange peel lifted note. Seems like there might be a little stem inclusion. Yum! — a day ago