Mer Soleil

Silver Unoaked Monterey County Chardonnay 2017

9.0

I do like an unoaked Chardonnay. Though zesty it has traces of minerals, not too much fruit, went well with salmon and scallops. Pretty nice Charles Wagner wine. — 5 days ago

Dawn, Severn and 21 others liked this

P A

@Sharon B Sharon your Packers won another one. Playoffs coming? Cheers 🏈

Sharon B

@P A i hope so!

Hope & Grace

Doctor's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013

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

Paul, Sharon and 18 others liked this

Wrath

Fermata Monterey Chardonnay 2015

Colin Cahoon

9.0

American oak, lemon rind, sliced almond, stewed peaches, and grapefruit rind on the nose. More oak on the palate with lemon zest, honeysuckle, and minerals. Medium alcohol and moderate plus acid that gives rise to a long, lemonade finish. A nice, compact wine with subtle character layered behind the oak. — 19 days ago

with Susan

Wrath

San Saba Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

Colin Cahoon

9.5

Cherry and rhubarb pie, hibiscus, blackberry tart, earthy loam, cedar, fresh oak, and a bit of funk on the nose. The palate features dark cherry, cherry cola, black tea, cinnamon, clove, minced meat pie, mace, nutmeg, almond, and chopped dates. High acid, moderate tannins, and high alcohol. Smooth from start to long finish. Wrath rocks, and San Saba deserves the next-door SLH designation. — 23 days ago

with Susan