Bob McDonald

9.8

Still a very dense crimson with no tawny rim, at 28 years of age but the tawniness is beginning. A certain feral, Animale, earthy note. Palate is ultra smooth, medium bodied / very savoury yet with a sweetish earthy note with a hint of raspberry. Jancis Robinson was invited by Stephen Henschke to a vertical tasting at the winery in May 2013 to cover vintages back to the late 1950’s. She described the 1996 as “pure hedonism “ and gave it 19/20. Medium plus intensity on the delicious palate with those gnarled old 150 year vines showing through. An absolutely stunning wine - one of the best we’ve had this year. — 6 days ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

10

Tim Mondavi’s master piece! This is my 2014 Continuum. One word: FANTABULOUS! Sage mountain vineyard in 2014 was incredible for cabernet! This is the best cab Ive had all year! Who says you dont always get what you pay for? 225 dollars of pure ecstasy in a glass! Wow. Fig newton dipped in grape jelly on the nose. Dark berries fill the palate followed by black pepper and dark chocolate . It is as velvety smooth as it gets. The oak and tree moss come through on the finish with a slight tingle on the corners of the lips and cheeks. The finish is dry and lingers with even more complexity! Cigar box, mineral rich soil, Black licorice, and grape jelly again! Goodness. I have been waiting on this one for a long time and I am so glad it is as good as I thought it would be. I just wish I had someone to share it with!!! — 2 years ago

Mike Branham

9.4

One of my favorites. Hill Family does a great job. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Bruce Phillips and his wife were pouring their 2021. Talked w/ him at length. Very nice couple.

The 2021 showed well young with room for improving with 10-25 years in bottle and beyond. It showed some evolution, wasn’t all primary. Elegant, very well balanced with excellent structure and finish. Drink 2033-45 properly stored.

The general Napa consensus on 2022 vintage will be a story of did you pick before or after the 6 days of extreme heat during the harvest window. One producer told me his would add 5% of 2023 to some of his 2022’s, which is allowed. He mentioned that he was going to add 15%. But, I think he just misspoke? Get ready for an amazing 2023 vintage from Napa. It was a cooler, not hot-hot, which was a near perfect growing season for long slow even ripening. Some say a vintage of a lifetime and others would only say exceptional.

The Saturday-Sunday Pavilion tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine is an excellent four hours to taste a lot wine, taste curated dishes from chefs from all over the country and meet the people behind the bottle. These short ribs were one of the top two or three things I tasted at the Pavilion Saturday. — 21 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Brief notes. Peach and pear together with spice and a trace of pepper. Plenty of power on the palate. Probably one of Australia’s best examples of Gruner Veltliner. Bought at the Cellar Door in the Adelaide Hills in March 2021. — 5 months ago

Jacob Panteloukas

9.0

A gift from cam and roommates one birthday, don’t remember much but I imagine it was good at $50 — 3 years ago

Roman Ochocki

9.3

My kind of #californication 🙂 Deep and spicy (finish) with strong bitter chocolate. Mild tannins, medium acidity. Black fruits - barely palpable. But a leather, smoke maybe - they do the job. My second wine from William Hill - the first one was fantastic blend (2014). — 3 years ago

K L

9.2

One of the best. Very balanced. Red fruit but earthy. — a month ago

with Matt

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Cobb is another solid producer of CA Pinot Noir. A 14 acre parcel bought in 1988 by Ross Cobb and began making wine in 1989.

The nose reveals ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; poached strawberries, blackberries, dark cherries, raspberries, hints of blueberries, uncooked rhubarb, tree bark w/sap, hints of eucalyptus, smoky characteristics, lightly grilled meats, black pepper, red licorice/cola, understated baking spices, dry top soil w/ crushed rocks, light, fresh tobacco, volcanic ash and fresh; dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets.

The palate is ripe, juicy and very elegant. Fruits are; ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; poached strawberries, blackberries, dark cherries, plum, raspberries, hues of blueberries, uncooked rhubarb and pomegranate juice. Tree bark w/sap, hints of eucalyptus, smoky characteristics, lightly grilled meats, black pepper, red licorice/cola, understated baking spices, dark, moist spice, very, dry, dusty top soil w/ crushed rocks, crumbled volcanics, dry, grey clay, light, fresh tobacco, cigar & volcanic ash and fresh; dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets. The excellent acidity runs like a cool mountain river with a well knitted, structured, balanced, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts over a minute landing on soft minerality & spice.

This 14 has another 4-5 years of good drinking before it starts its gentle decline.

Photos of the Jack Hill Vineyard, winery gate and founder Ross Cobb. — 3 months ago

Eric Urbani

8.9

Blind tasting of nine Rochioli single vineyard Pinots, three each from 2000, 2004 and 2006. Quite a bit of bret on this one divided our group. — 3 years ago