Very smooth! Great flavor. — 2 months ago
I’ve got lots of love for these wines, but I always struggle with when to open. They are fantastic young and equally fantastic with age. Jeb said of this wine, “the greatest GSM blend from California, ever.”, and stamped it with a perfect score. Strong praise, and while I’m not there, I don’t regret opening this.
Consumed from decanter the first 2-3hrs before decanting back to bottle and finishing the remaining third later in the evening. Much better later in the day. Wound up tight initially. Classical high end Paso with this distinct airy-jammyness. So much going on with squeezed blackberries, peppercorn, lots of kirsch. Some garrigue. Mouth coating and a total wave of flavor on the palate…black fruit, cherry cordial, cherry drizzled smoked meats. It’s both supremely juicy and hauntingly tannic at the finish. Even with time to open, the ABV makes itself known, but you know that going in. If you like the style, it’s hard to beat. — 3 years ago
This wine is in a perfect place. 2008 is not as regarded as 2007, but this 2008 made by Charles Hendricks is saying differently & absolutely one of his very best. I would say, James & Coleen made a mistake in letting him get away.
It is sort of a Mother Mary of God wine. Not to be religious, just the phrase fits.
Our eyes & ears perk up when we hear Napa names like; Harlan, Scarecrow, Hundred Acre, Bond & Colgin. I’d like to put this in blind and watch the shock & awe in everyone eyes when the wines were revealed.
The palate entry is perfect in every way. It is rich, lush, extremely balanced with well rounded, velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries, baked strawberries framed in raspberry edges. Some of the most amazing, dark spices with palate heat, melted, dark chocolate to pudding, black licorice to anise, mocha, malt balls, caramel, mid baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, fresh & used tobacco, leathery, graphite, crushed rocks & limestone, sage brush, slightly, candied, dark & withering flowers set in understated violet’s & lavender, warm, summer, rainfall acidity, balance for days, excellent structure/tension with elegance and smart polish that lasts minutes and settles on beautiful spices.
This wine is at its precipice and will hold a few more years with good drinking for 8-10 years. — 2 months ago
Really a great wine at this point in its point in life. A sister bottle tasted 2 years ago was rather rough on the palate. The tannins have softened while the elegant nose is still there. Really enjoying this bottle! Cheers!
— 3 months ago
Light fruit aroma, intense deep nearly opaque purple, jammy and thick with notes of raspberry and strawberry. Delicious. — 2 years ago
I have said many times that when Charles Hendricks made James Cole from 2013 backwards, amazing.
Charles is the most under known & therefore unappreciated Napa Winemaker on the planet from my perspective.
So, when a bunch of his JC vintages appeared on the secondary market, I bought them all. They are very rare these days.
2013 an excellent vintage, small berries with excellent concentration. When I picked up the cork from the table at the restaurant, it was turned away from me. When I looked at my hand, it was heavily painted with tannins. In a way I have seldom experienced. It was so, I could have easily painted my war face. — 2 months ago
One of the bottles from my annual WWC hosting, opened alongside a 2020 Chateau Beaucastel Blanc.
46% Grenache Blanc/31% roussanne/23% Chenin Blanc.
More expressive and dialed up compared to the Beaucastel (not a big surprise). Medium gold in the glass. Bright and juicy roussanne notes of orange marmalade and apricot, alongside white peaches and a powder-sugar funnel-cake type aromatic. The Chenin gives this a good spine of acidity to prevent the rich and full-bodied entry from being flabby. Honey-roasted nuts, honeycomb, lemon cream, underripe pineapple and a savory/waxy finish. The warmth comes out at the finish, but it’s not substantial. Really nice with 1-2hrs of air. — 6 months ago
"Odedi"
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Nose of red fruits with wild flowers, tobacco, eucalyptus, light earth, licorice, light oak, spices and herbs.
Medium plus in body and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with red cherries, currants, plums, licorice, light oak, spices, chocolates, red candy, tobacco leaf, light earth, herbs and light black tea.
Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is still very young and needs some bottle time to mature properly, but already drinking beautifully.
Rich, yet elegant. Fruit forward, Nicely balanced and easy drinking. Spicy and entertaining.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Showing good potential to become a 94 point wine.
Showing lots of red fruits, especially on the nose, which surprised me a bit. A different style of Napa Cabernet, and very unique.
Needed 3 hours in the decanter to open up. Complex and engaging.
A good sipping wine that will pair nicely with food too.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 30 months in (80% new) French Oak barrels. A small production of 7,200 bottles.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$230. — 14 hours ago