Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

Still somehow totally under the radar — 16 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2009 | Under the radar Cava, one of the best I ever tasted. Is on a ‘101 wines to try before you die’ list - but I can assure that I want to stay alive ☺️ — 2 months ago

Antonio Galloni

Founder, Vinous

9.3

Always one of my favorite Carter wines and one of the under the radar gems in this portfolio. Dark, layered and full of character. Just bottled, will be better in time. Tasted during the Vinous Learn Oakville seminar. 93+ — 4 months ago

Antonio Galloni

Founder, Vinous

9.6

Fabulous. Rich, creamy and expressive, with tremendous energy underpinning it all. One of Napa Valley’s under the radar gems. Tasted during our St. Helena & Conn Valley Vinous Learn masterclass. — 4 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I have to be completely honest. This producer was not even on my radar. I tasted it at Elyse while tasting Montagu. We met the Winemaker-Kimberly Hatcher. In addition to being a Winemaker, she is a hero as a full time Firefighter in the Napa Valley. She also sports one hell of a ripped physique. Not sure where she finds the time.

I normally have an aversion to Santa Rita Hills Pinot as they are normally too extracted for me. Not the case here. It runs just short of that marker.

The 2018 Morgado drinks surprisingly well this young. The mouthfeel is sexy, rich, lush & full. The fruits are nicely ripened & just a touch candied; black plum, blackberries, dark cherries, raspberries mulberries & blueberries. Softly layered baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove & vanillin. Soft savory grilled meats, understated tobacco & soft leather, dark rich soils, black licorice, mixed berry cola, crushed rock powder, limestone/sandstone, soft wood use, black fruit tea with purple, dark, red & blue florals set in lavender. The round acidity is near perfect. The finish is as glorious as the start...rich, elegant, well knitted & balanced fruit and earth & persists minutes.

One of the nice surprises on our Napa experience. — 22 days ago

Jamie Lauder

9.4

Let me first say this wine is very versatile to have with different global dishes. In summertime, I will BBQ BC halibut and Spot Prawns and in the winter time we will have Nabe (Japanese hot pot) with Dashi stock and lots of vegetables.
It has a brilliant straw colour with greenish hints.
On the nose white flowers with citrus and beeswax. Taste wise, golden Delicious apples, acacia honey, creamy lemon curd , minerality to last for days and a raw green almond finish. The best part is this wine can age 5-10 years and grow more complex. Old vines Verdicchio flies below the radar. — 4 months ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

Bought a handful of 2012s a while ago & love what age does to these- more rounded, deeper. The fruit still vital. Not sure why this producer seems low on the radar. About 20$ for such high quality and the pedigree of the site shows too. — 6 months ago

Alan Weinberg

9.0

under the radar solid producer. Not Rousseau level but damn good. $80 on release. Red fruits and good acidity, misses a bit of depth but lovely. — 2 months ago

Matt Waring

9.3

Deep blueberry and blackberry notes shot through with charred oak and some flint. Awesome stuff under the radar in Paso — 3 months ago

with Christine

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

A good follow up to the 2008 Forts de Latour.

Great bottle that shows beauty of the 2012 Napa Valley vintage managed by the right hands.

Charles Hendricks is maybe one of the most under the radar producers in the Napa Valley and certainly shouldn’t.

This wine is $125 in futures. I can think of other Napa Cabernets that cost much more that are not nearly as good.

Charles does not make this bottling every year...only when he has the right quality of fruit.

His wines always drink well young and will improve with the right bottle evolution depending on varietal and vintage.

This 12 is a gorgeous, sexy wine immediately upon entry. Beautiful round, supple tannins. Perfectly ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, plum and blueberries. Black licorice, sweet tarriness, Asian & Indian spices, just the right amount of barrel selection/toast that bring out soft baking spices of; cinnamon, nutmeg, clove & vanillin, soft earthiness of; dry crushed rocks, loamy soils, limestone & volcanics. Suede leather, some fresh tobacco & shades of graphite with fresh; dark, red, blue & purple florals. The acidity is round and near perfect. The finish is; elegant, well knitted & balanced in fruit in earth, polished and excellent wire to wire settling onto mid dark spice on the long set.

Photos of; the Hope & Grace tasting room in downtown Yountville (Charles makes H&G as well), Charles doing the heavy lifting of winemaking and my favorite Pollock like painting that used to be behind their tasting bar and now hangs in Charles house. — 4 months ago