Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I coravined some of the 97 early this week and as I sipped it, it was had not to think it was the best Jones Family I’ve had. A score of 98 and I have not given a wine 98 in a very long time. But no matter where you go, there you are.

Tonight I had the 01 at the “Tasting House” and it was amazing. Their Short Ribs are amongst the best I’ve had. A deliberate wine bring knowing the wine & how well it pairs w/ short ribs.

1997 was an outstanding vintage. I think we can all agree on that. Jones Family is a TRB wine that should not fly under the radar in any vintage and I have had nearly all those good vintages since 97.

The 1997 is ethereal. The nose is pure beauty. Perfectly ripe and resolved fruits. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums & juicy strawberries. Perfect baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, sandstone/limestone, fresh tobacco, cedar to sandalwood, dark, Indian/Asian spices, camphor, black licorice, berry cola, sun tea, volcanics, tree bark w/ hints of sap, dark & red fresh flowers.

The palate is incredibly, beautiful, balanced fruit & earth. Bright cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, hovering raspberries & juicy strawberries. Perfect baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, sandstone/limestone, beautiful Indian/Asian spices w/ some plate heat, fresh tobacco, sandalwood, volcanics & dry clay, camphor, dark chocolate baking bar, black licorice, some warm caramel, berry cola, sun tea, volcanics, dark rich soil with dry leaves, tree bark w/ hints of sap, fresh & dry herbs, dark & red fresh flowers framed in lavender & liquid violets, excellent acidity with perfect; elegance, tension, balance and structured finish that last minutes landing on fresh fruit, dark spices and earth tones.

I’ve posted other bottles of 97 Jones Family that were incredible, 95-96. This one perhaps had better storage, evolution & timing. Magic. — 15 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.2

Saline, brioche, airy, sea breeze, yeasty bread, refined and so so elegant. Deep. Super deep. Palate is broad and sappy with the classic high dosage of the house but full of sap and saline. Very balanced. Terrific acids and purity. Elegant and mineral. Needs air like these all do. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Charles strikes again.

I said weeks ago, I’d rather drink Charles Hendricks Pinot in futures @ $75 vs. the 09 Marcassin we had two weeks back @ $150+ winery or $225+ on the secondary market. This 14, while still young, proves that point and will only continue to get better.

It’s about as luxurious as Ca Pinot gets. Just supple, soft & elegant as body gets. Candied, floral fruits of ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, lean purple fruits, dry cranberries, strawberries, plums, delicate but darks spices, cinnamon stick, vanillin, nutmeg & touch clove, salted caramel, mocha powder, limestone & grey volcanics, dry crushed rocks hints of peppered grilled meats, fresh & dry tobacco, dry stems/twigs, sage dominated dry Provence herbs, splash of mint/eucalyptus, tree sap with bright candied, fresh & slightly withering florals of; dark, red, purple, blue set in a field of violets & some lavender. The acidity is perfect. The long finish is; extremely well balanced & polished, elegant, fresh, just the right amount of candied with a long, dark spice finish in the long set.

The 14 really started to excel after an hour plus in the decanter.

Photos of; the outside of the Hope & Grace tasting room in downtown Yountville where you will find Charles Hendricks wines. He makes Hope & Grace wines as well. One of my favorite paintings that used to sit behind their tasting bar but, is now in Charles house. It is very Pollock like! Winemaker/Co-owner Charles Hendricks and a vineyard in region of the Santa Lucia Highlands. — 5 years ago

Emily Gorney

9.5

Pretty good fruit flavor and not too hoppy but still nice — 3 years ago

Emily Gorney

9.5

Good by itself or with something mixed in — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The Denali showed better than the earlier red wines we tasted. This is where we crossed over into the realm of outstanding during our single vineyard tasting at AXR.

The 2018 has great freshness & mouthfeel. Beautiful, floral, round, ripe, lush, juicy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plums, bark cherries, some blueberries & haunting raspberries over the top. Dry, grainy tannins that show their baby teeth, caramel, cinnamon, light nutmeg, clove & vanilla, some black licorice, tree sap, black tarriness, dry crushed rocks, limestone, soft volcano, saline, stones, light graphite, beautiful florals that are; dark, purple, red & blue framed in violets. Excellent acidity. The lush, well balanced, elegant, sexy finish sings on the palate for minutes.

Photos of, the entrance to their main tasting room in the rear of the property, the main house as you drive up to their Estate, their woods off the tasting patio and their Estate vines. — 4 years ago

Jill Schoff

9.0

Not as sweet as other meads, which we really liked. You can really taste and smell the honey. — 9 years ago

Meredith Downing

9.1

Perfect level of sweetness. The burnt sugar adds a slightly bitter note to balance the sweetness. — 9 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Nose is like a gingerbread house. Honey, mineral, spice, orange flowers and so much more. So hard to identify aromas on this wine as it’s so unique, nuanced and complex. Stunningly pure, balanced and waxey with a no joke structure, purity and sap. Lovely mouth-coating tannins and so much yellow fruit/marzipan fruit complexity. Now it has iodine and hazelnut on the nose which is reminiscent of Puligny. Wow. So young but so much going on. Amazing concentration and depth. Enormous potential. One of my most favorites since the legendary 98.

After a few hours of air this has more dried honey on the nose and amazing elegance on the palate. Vibrant and refined. What a great wine. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Tasted this at the property & bought three & three of the 14 Moose. It is even better than I envisioned at this stage and will only continue to evolve to something even more grand.

The nose shows a little paraffin wax at first with gentle, beautiful, elegant floral, ruby, ripe, fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black plums, black raspberries, plum, baked strawberries & hints of raspberries. A weave of faint; molasses, brown sugar & dark chocolate, some of the sexiest, gently layered baking spices of; cinnamon, clove, even lighter cinnamon & vanillin, hints of sweet tarriness, blossoming tree sap with a touch of bark, melted caramel, amazing, caressing, Marilyn Monroe, mid, dark spice, steeped fruit teas, limestone volcanics, a little dry, crush rocks, black licorice with gorgeous, candied, ruby, florals that are fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, blue that are set in violets & quiet lavender.

The body is wet, supple, rich and as good as it gets. She is flat out gorgeous with perfect viscosity. A little paraffin wax with gentle, beautiful, elegant floral, ruby, ripe, fruits of; blackberries, dry dark cherries, black plums, black raspberries, plum, baked strawberries & dry cranberries & hints of raspberries. A weave of faint; molasses, melted, brown sugar & dark chocolate, some of the sexiest, gently layered baking spices of; cinnamon, clove, even lighter cinnamon & vanillin, hints of sweet tarriness, blossoming tree sap with a touch of pine bark, melted caramel, dark cola, amazing, caressing, Marilyn Monroe, mid, dark spice with perfect, soft heat, steeped fruit teas, haunting here & there fresh herbaceousness, understated eucalyptus & mint, Christmas pudding over a touch of Christmas fruit cake, limestone volcanics, a little dry, crush rocks, black licorice with gorgeous, candied, ruby, florals that are fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, blue that are set in violets & quiet lavender. The acidity is simply insane. The finish falls into fantasy. It’s; sexy, gorgeous, elegant, round, rich, the definition of balance that persists for minutes falling on to a spice ending.

Most interesting Pinot of the year(s).

This will add a couple of points in 5 years.

The one is another bottling of Christmas Magic. Shots around the house on Christmas Eve-Eve. Yup, I even have a Wine Santa to enjoy wine with my Wine Snowman.

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve. 🎄🎁🎅❄️🌟⛄️

@Jason and Jennie Thank you for the introduction to DR Stephens. The 14 Moose is still better & will further stun one day but, their 15 Pinot is outstanding now. We will hold our other two bottles of their 15 another 3-5 years before opening. The first 14 Moose in 2026.

12/23/20 — 4 years ago