Jonathan Wall

9.2

Straightforward Napa comfort food. Dark Berries, Chocolate, soft tannins, nice finish. Good to go! — 4 days ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.2

V17. Elegant wine. Vanilla and floral nose. Creamy tropical and apricot fruit. Toasty finish. Very nice weight and well balanced. — 7 days ago

Laura Tullman

9.2

Fresh and tart with a smooth oaky finish. — 6 days ago

with Samara

John Ruvolo

9.0

Old standby. Overpaid for this vintage at the restaurant but still solid. Menu said 2016, not ‘17 — 14 days ago

with Lauren

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

What a nose! From the straight pour into the decanter to later in the glass; ripe, slightly stewed/baked; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, incense, ambers, wood char, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, dark spice, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets.

The palate has excellent delineation. It’s seamless wire to wire. The body is rich, thick, lush & full. The tannins are round & nicely softened but, still have chewy, tarry, tannins. It’s a good look in on the 2009 but, will still ascend for another 7-8 years before peaking, hold a few years and start its slow decent over the next 8-10 years. Properly stored of course! The structure & tension still need to soften but, the length & balance have found their groove. Ripe, slightly stewed/baked, beautifully floral and a touch candied; mulberries, boysenberries, black plum, blackberries, blackberries raspberries, blueberries, dark cherries, haunting raspberries with strawberries pulling up the rear. Incense, ambers, wood char, dark expresso used grounds, sweet tarriness, leather, saddle-wood, black turned earth, slightly, moist clay, dry top soil, beautiful, soft, smooth, more pronounced dark spice than the nose with good, mid intensity palate heat, black pepper, shades of potpourri, fresh tobacco with a little ash, dry stones, some licorice & dark berry cola, steeped fruit teas, a little Provence herbs, mocha powder, vanillin, understated; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg framed in fresh & withering; dark, blue, some red & purple flowers with interlaced violets. The acidity is round & phat and holds the slightly elevated alcohol in check. The long finish is, rich, ripe, lush, smartly polished, well knitted balance of fruit & earth, sliding into dusty, yet velvety tannins with dark spice on the long set.

Photos of; Stag’s Leap Winery’s tasting room & Estate vines, Lake Fay and inside tasting bar/room. — 23 days ago

Laura Purdy

9.3

I was craving a big Cab tonight and man, this hit the spot. It’s a bit young but is opening up nicely. — 4 days ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.4

Whoa, like wine with steak? This is the wine. Deep purple color. Dusty white pepper and soft cedar nose. Juicy, spicy, blackberry and licorice fruit. Smooth, tight, chewy, mocha with a slight herbal finish. This is so good. — 3 days ago

TJ Kohut

9.5

Rich and full bodied such a great dinner wine — a day ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.4

Awesome. Rich and complex. It’s a baby but heck why not. Scarecrow esque. Email me for a great price too — 12 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you are going to drink Napa Valley 100% Merlot, you can’t go wrong drinking one crafted by Charles Hendricks.

The nose shines brightly of, dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, poached/baked - strawberries & cherries, hints of blueberries, dark chocolate, limestone/clay minerals, dry crushed rocks, steeped black tea, touch mint, mocha, soft; cinnamon, clove & vanilla, understated, sweet tarriness, dark spice, used expresso grounds, whiff of black pepper, rich, black earthiness, light alcohol vapors, malt in malt balls with ruby, to candied, dark, red, blue and dominate purple florals that are fresh to withering and slightly candied.

The wine is somewhere around its peak with another 5-8 years of solid drinking ahead. Palate is; ripe, juicy, lush and full bodied. Fruits are; dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, baked, juicy black plum w/ skin, strawberries & cherries, much more blueberry than the nose, hovering raspberries around the rest of the more dominant fruits, dark chocolate, limestone/clay minerals, dry crushed rocks, steeped black tea, touch mint, light sage, mocha powder, soft; cinnamon, clove & vanilla, understated, sweet tarriness, dark spice bring heat to the mid tongue, used expresso grounds, hint of black pepper, rich, black earthiness, malt in malt balls with ruby, to candied, dark, red, blue and dominate purple florals framed in violets & lavender that are fresh to withering and slightly candied. The acidity is bright & fresh and holds the slightly elevated alcohol level. The long finish is; ripe, juicy, elegant, good balance of fruit & earth that falls into heated dark spices that linger minutes.

Photos of, the Regusci winery & Estate vines,
Tasting bar, pay by honor fruit & vegetable cart just outside their Estate (they were farmers long before they made wine) and the view of the Napa Valley floor viewed from their tasting terrace. — 22 days ago