John Hagood

8.9

Chez Brower — 4 months ago

JKT

9.3

Cved twice already and finally opened, it only seems to get better stored in Cali bottle, good sign for long aging. A sense of complexity lingers during a long finish and tend to evolve. It’s a different mirror than the Burgundian one to reflect what’s so enticing about wine. Upping two points! Also empty glass left overnight did show nice leftover aroma which wasn’t the case previously. — 3 years ago

oeno man

9.1

Dark, fruity, dates, complex, excellent for the price — 5 years ago

Tim Maloney

9.0

Strong scent of berries and apricot. Bitter with a long finish. Decent strong wine. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

First, cheers to Delectable working again after two weeks on the fritz.

This is our kickoff to the Memorial Day weekend. Hope everyone has a good one on tap with some of your favorite wines. So, happy Memorial Day weekend all!

Then, a garden update. We really enjoy watching it grow. You can see it daily.

The top pictures were taken May 1st. The bottom pictures are from today, May 21st. All that crazy growth in just 20 days. Amazing!!! 🍅 🌱🥬🥒🌽

As for the Ruinart, it is appreciable better using my new Riedel Vintage Sommelier Champange flute. Well worth the investment. These are a late birthday gift from our friends James & Christina. Thank you. The nose & palate much more vibrant. More on that as the weekend progresses. Cheers!🥂 — 6 years ago

Denise Witman

9.6

South Africa, very smooth. Delicious! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The is uniquely a non-vintage Cuvée Amor. I have it on pretty good word that when Charles Hendricks (Winemaker for both Hope & Grace & his own Hendricks label) doesn’t make his Hendricks Cabernet, this is the wine that the Hendricks fruit goes into. @Paul T- Huntington Beach @Eric Shanks

The nose reveals, round, ripe, ruby, slightly liqueured fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, baked plum, blueberries, and black raspberries. Dark, roasted coffee, dark chocolate, coco powder, caramel, vanillin, light; clove, nutmeg & dark spice, black turned earth, dark fruit cola, burnt coconut, touch of black pepper, sandstone/limestone, light fresh & dry herbaceousness-bay leaf dominant, dry, pine twig, soft mint, cherry kirsch liqueur, moist clay and extremely dark fresh, candied & withering florals with blue flowers & violets.

The body is; ripe, rich and full. The tannins are round, velvety, chewy & slightly tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance is just hitting its stride to peak form. Round, ripe, ruby, juicy & slightly liqueured fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, baked plum, blueberries, black raspberries. Mulberries, poached strawberries and a touch of dry cranberries. Dark, roasted coffee, dark chocolate, coco powder, caramel, vanillin, light; clove, nutmeg & dark spice, black turned earth, dark fruit cola, burnt coconut, touch of black pepper, sandstone/limestone, light fresh & dry herbaceousness-bay leaf dominant, dry, pine twig, soft mint, cherry kirsch liqueur, moist clay and extremely dark fresh, candied & withering florals with blue flowers & violets. The acidity is like a cool shower on a warm day. The long, well lingering finish is; well balanced & polished ending in soft dark spice.

Photos of; exterior Hope & Grace tasting room in downtown Yountville, interior of their tasting room, Charles Hendricks & the Hendricks Santa Lucia vineyard that he sources his Pinot Noir — 7 years ago

Lisa McKinnon

9.1

Light tannins, somewhat fruit forward, reminded me of a Meritage. Good with filet. — 10 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Nice garnet color. Aromas of plum, blackberry earth and spices. Dark fruit flavors with accents of coffee, dark chocolate and herbs. Smokey finish. Very “Beaujolais-like.” (Carbonic Maceration?) Fresh and juicy. Acidity also present. Thank You Ron B! — 4 years ago

Carolyn Pospisil

9.3

I may or may not have ordered a full case of this shortly after this original comments. The 2019 vintage is a little off and not quite as good. I’m not changing my rating but be aware. — 4 years ago

Adam Nesto

9.0

V good white wine. Ben thought it was French. — 6 years ago

with Alex, Ben and 1 other

Scott Petrus

8.9

N. Rhône in style which was a pleasant surprise. Stewed meat and tannins balance with mouth cleansing acid. — 6 years ago

Magdalena Gjefle

9.0

2017 vintage - Nice, slightly oaky Chardonnay. Lemon peel, nice acidity, yellow plum. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Finally a night or weekend we weren’t working on our rental, rushing to get some Christmas shopping done or getting ready to entertain holiday guests. It’s a night for us to chill out. That’s a good thing. It is also our final night to enjoy all our Christmas candlelights before we pack up tomorrow. 😔

We didn’t even enjoy any of one our very favorite N/V Rosé Champagnes over the holidays.

Tastes really good tonight. Showing shades of carbonated Dreamsicle or Creamsicle. However, you remember them growing up. Rich, ripe, candied & lean; black cherries, strawberries, cherries and summertime leaner watermelon. Baguette, grey volcanics, sea spray and finely powdered, razor sharp chalkiness with candied, pink rose pedals. Perfect, crisp, lively acidity and long, rich, well polished & balanced finish with persistence.

Hope you all have had a great start to 2020! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

@Plate&Bottle

Charles Hendricks Malbec night cap!!!


If you live in & around the greater Bay Area, you owe to yourself to attend one of the dinners Hedy holds 4-5 times a year. Not only is the food amongst the very best we had, the people that attend and environment are as equally good. Find Hedy @Plate&Bottle — 7 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

This is the 2019 Domaine Le Gouroulu Vacqueyras Cuvée Classique GSM. A blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre.

On the nose I find strawberry, black cherry, raspberry, black pepper, spice, leather, bacon fat, violet and earth.

On the palate is strawberry, black cherry, plum, blueberry, black raspberry, pepper, garrigue, star anise and earth.

This wine is full bodied with medium to medium + acidity and medium + powdery grainy tannins that leaves you with a medium to long red & dark fruit wood earthy finish. I hope everyone's weekend was full of good wine family and friendships. Please stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 3 years ago

Maarten 't Hooft

9.6

Nice Pinotage that has a little hint of Pinot Noir. Good alternative to Syrah and went well with the lighter courses like duck/melon and cheese — 4 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.0

My Sunday night wine I have gone back to a favorite of mine that is not going to break the bank and is consistently good. I have opened the Jim Clendenon 2018 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County.

On the nose there is raspberry, cranberry, cherry, spice vanilla anise, clove and earthiness.

On the palate I detect good red fruit, raspberry, cherry, cranberry, red currant, anise, clove and earthiness.

The wine is medium bodied with medium + acidity and medium fine tannins that leads into a long fresh red fruit finish. Another well blended wine from Jim Clendenon that i have come to expect. I hope everyone's weekend was a good one and we are all still safe and healthy. Have a great week, Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 6 years ago

Magdalena Gjefle

9.3

Really nice 2018!
— 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I kid you not, Charles Hendricks is likely the most underrated & under known Winemaker in Napa Valley.

If you have not had his wines, you are missing out on great wines & relative real value for Napa. He makes his own private higher end label-Hendricks, Hope & Grace and midway through the 14 vintage for; James Cole, Regusci & T-Vine.

There are few Winemakers that can make wines that drink well young & some that will age two decades plus stored correctly.

This Santa Lucia Doctor’s Vineyard is really good but, his private label Hendricks Pinot from Santa Lucia is off the charts. His 2008 Hendricks Pinot Noir is the highest rating I have ever given a Ca Pinot Noir, 98.

The 13 Doctor’s Vineyard is better than his 12 & is still a little early right now. It will improve over the next 5 years & hold there a couple of years before its gentle decline.

The nose reveals, ripe, well extracted & slightly baked; blackberries, stewed, deep, dark, black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, dry pomegranate & cranberries with shades of blueberries. Dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, touch of savory meats, anise to black licorice, black tea, wet clay, steeped black tea, touch of herbs dominated with Rosemary, rich, black, earth, dry stones, dry crushed rocks, fresh tobacco, leather notes, volcanic minerals, limestone with bright, fresh & withering florals that are; dark, red, purple, blue mixed in violets and lavender.

The body is full, rich, lush and gorgeous. The structure, tension, length and balance are just hitting their good phase. It is simply a beautiful & complex Pinot Noir. Nicely extracted & slightly baked; blackberries, stewed, deep, dark, black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, dry pomegranate & cranberries with more blueberries than the nose. Dark spices that bring palate heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, touch of savory meats, peppery notes, anise to black licorice, black tea, wet clay, steeped black tea, touch of herbs dominated with Rosemary, rich, black, earth, dry stones, dry crushed rocks, fresh tobacco, leather notes, volcanic minerals, limestone with bright, fresh & withering florals that are; dark, red, purple, blue mixed in violets and lavender. The acidity is very good & excellent at containing the slightly higher ABV. The long, complex finish is, well balanced fruit & earth, polished and will persist until dawn.

Photos of; Their Doctor’s Vineyard, one of my favorite paintings that used to hang behind the bar in their tasting room & now hangs in Charles’ house (it reminds me of a Jackson Pollock), Winemaker-Charles Hendricks and the front of their tasting room in downtown Yountville.
— 6 years ago