David Hill

St Innocent Winery

Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021

Initially a bit closed, after two hours in the decanter this really opens up. Black cherry and sage come through on the nose and continue onto the palate with additional notes of cassis, bay leaf, and cloves. Has a persistent finish with herbs, spice, and black tea lingering on the palate. The herbal and spice flavors were really vibrant when paired with basil pesto pasta and mushrooms. Medium+ acidity, medium+ body, and medium tannins. This is the 2021 vintage. — 9 days ago

Tom, Neil and 5 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

@Joel Lara Nice write-up. This is consistently their most difficult Pinot offering to "figure out." Oodles of subtleties vs a few markers/demonstrative tendencies. NOT for the average Pinot Noir drinker.
Joel Lara

Joel Lara

@Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego that’s interesting because as I was drinking it I was thinking about how different it was to a lot of pinots I’ve had. The savory elements are not as loud as they are in other good pinots, but I still found them an intriguing backdrop to the beautiful fruit. The tannin really helped add some complexity on the finish too. I also bought a 2019 Temperance Hill, so looking forward to seeing how that compares.

Chappellet

Pritchard Hill Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Big bold and delicious — 2 months ago

Brian, Andrew and 10 others liked this

J. Rochioli

Little Hill Pinot Noir 2018

We had a vertical tasting of 2018 and 2020 Little Hill Single Vineyard PN. Both have similar bouquets and palates. Black cherry and minerality. 2020 is a little more floral. 2018 has a more darker tone; and that is good. Both have nice mouthfeels with smoothed out tannins. 2018 is a little more velvety. Both very good. It seems these PN need more time in the bottle — 3 months ago

Stony Hill

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2023

Refreshing and good mouthfeel, it was lacking in depth, length and on the simple side. — a month ago

Scott@Mister, Hermes and 3 others liked this

Vine Hill Ranch

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Paul J
9.7

WOTN! Bested the 2018 Schrader. — 20 days ago

Tom, Jan and 3 others liked this

Michael David Winery

Freakshow The Strongest Man on Earth Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon

My review may not be beneficial to all because of my drinking style. I drink the bottle myself over the course of a week. With this Freakshow Cab Sauv, my review changed from the first to last glass. The first glass was strong, thin, and barely enjoyable. With subsequent glasses tasted a developing sweetness and thickness. I realize this is counter intuitive to wines normally being best when being allowed to breathe a bit after opening. Just wasn’t the case for me with this one. Rating was a 6.5 to start and a 9.5 at the end I’m grading with a curve to give it an overall 9. Will buy again based on Freakshow reputation and hope for a better early result. — a month ago

Michael David Winery

6th Sense Lodi Syrah

Great flavor, spice, smooth — 3 months ago

Michael David Winery

Earthquake Lodi Zinfandel 2022

KP
9.4

I would absolutely buy this one again! Especially at the $20-$25 price point.
Delicious blueberry and rhubarb pie on the nose. Silky tannins with low acidity, and a long vanilla finish with mild oak. Well balanced and very enjoyable.
— 16 days ago

Kumeu River

Hunting Hill Chardonnay 2019

This is the 2019 Hunting Hill, same vintage as the recently tasted Kumeu River Coddington. The Coddington remains the more opulent of the Kumeu cuvées. A mouth watering salinity. In this one. As Bob Campbell MW said, this is a Burgundian style (lacking the stone fruit of the Coddington). Although several previous vintages of Mates Vineyard have proved, at least to my palate, that it is the premium Cuvée. — a month ago

Somm, Andrew and 18 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald, and this note looks like it posted without issue?? Maddening, hang in there!!

B.R. Cohn

Olive Hill Estate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Great wine. Elegant dark fruits. Rich. — 2 months ago