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. — 8 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! — 5 days ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Artiste Winery Countemplation Non Vintage, Santa Barbara County, California

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. A very pretty color.

Fruity nose with bing cherries, blueberries, plums, wood, vanilla, red candy, spices and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, currants, barnyard, light vegetables, oak, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates and peppercorn.

Spicy finish with soft tannins and tangy citrus fruit.

This is a very interesting Pinot Noir blend from Santa Barbara County. A nice surprise, a Pinot Noir with a twist. Smells like a Pinot Noir from California, tastes like a fruity Pinot Noir with a touch of Syrah. Spicy, unique and interesting.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. A good wine to sip on with friends and talk about.

Although very enjoyable now, it should get even better in 3 to 5 years. (This Non-Vintage was bottled in 2019).

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Interesting and engaging.

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

A blend of 70% Pinot Noir, 24% Syrah and 6% Chardonnay.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$38. — 7 days ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.4

Jeb 96, not as big I expected considering his review which is below, great nose but I’d take several Paso Syrahs over this one, especially at the price point of $150.00 on release, good but more med body. I’d grab the Rotie Cellars at $30-$40 before this one, Coming mostly from the Sta. Rita Hills (there’s a splash from the Watch Hill Vineyard) and a blend of 91% Syrah, 5% Grenache, 2% Viognier, and 2% Petite Sirah, the 2016 Syrah 1/1 is the flagship Syrah release. It was 60% destemmed and aged 25 months in a new Ermitage 400-liter barrel. Its saturated purple color gives way to a brilliant, full-bodied, seamless effort that has textbook Syrah notes of bloody black and blue fruits, lavender, game, chocolate, and ground pepper. It's a big, rich, meaty, beautifully pure Syrah to drink over the coming 10-15 years or more. — 4 hours 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 — 7 days ago

Ellen Clifford

8.9

Smells like great California Pinot. Tastes and feels like it. Carries me into the dark dark goth night of Pinot NOIR of vineyards named “Sleepy Hollow” which is great for the day I’m recommending it for (stay tuned). Rich enough ripe enough but the acid cuts through. I’d drink this. I do drink this. — 12 days ago

Jeff Orlowski

8.9

Bold, dry, reasonably balanced. Plums and tobacco are prominent. — 2 days ago

with Michael and Joe

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
— 3 days ago

David Kline

9.4

Lemon, green banana, lime pith, daisy, crushed rock dust, a sweet note: lemon verbena pudding. Lychee notes with lemon, lime and tangerine with amazing acid and mineral residuals that coalesce to lemon soaked pith. Round and lovely aura around tangential, edgy acid. Finesse. #tenutacavalierpepe #irpinafalanghina #falanghina #santavara #docg #italianwine #vinobianco #whitewine #campania #campagnia — 15 hours ago

with Courtney

Eric Urbani

9.1

Was suspicious of the RS at first but it is off-dry and paired super well with the charred endive appetizer. food wine — 4 hours ago