Austin Hohnke

9.0

Very interesting wine. Smells like blue cheese and sourdough starter on the nose. Palate is very mineral with nice acidic tension. Neutral oak? Citrus driven, not fruity. Went great with yellowfin tuna and pork loin with braised leeks at Runner Up. Quite the wine list. — a month ago

Delci Desiree

9.1

Yummy, got in Culver City at a co op market — 4 years ago

Stephen Lynch

9.0

Yes. Beautiful rich wine for a red blend. Full and bold, yet soft to the taste. World Market. — 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. — 6 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

94 vin?

Revel

8 months sur lie

Nose:

Palate: a bit tart. Can taste the sur lie. A bit rich. Yellow fruits.

A bit unusual. — 2 years ago

Kevin Dale

9.1

Interesting wine. Almost a raspberry jam flavor without being sugary. — 3 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.0

Label says Mendocino California, not North Coast. Classic rusty-ruby Zin color. Aroma is burnt grass meets cherry cobbler. Flavors are juicy, jammy and pretty classic for coastal Zin. Slightly toasty and smoky too. Finish has the tannins and lingering cherry fruit that sings so well in good Zin. This 8 year old bottle of North Coast Zin is holding up quite well. It’s a great deal for $6 at Grocery Outlet Bargain Market. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

Mother Mary of God! Near Pomerol like. Charles Hendricks masterpiece. Menthol & a touch of mint.

Stunning vintage & wine.

This 07 is in perfect shape…at its peak. Still has 7 plus years of life.

Black raspberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, purple fruits, dark chocolate/pudding, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, softened, cinnamon stick, vanilla, dark, rich soils, moist, limestone mush, black tea, black licorice, bay leaf, salted caramel, dryish twig, menthol, mint, volcanic ash, sandalwood, dark withering to candied, red, blue florals, lavender framed in violets with perfect acidity and a amazingly, structured, well knitted/tensioned and elegantly polished finish that lasts minutes falling squarely on earthy minerality.

Second wine with an Allen Brother’s Ribcap recently bought on the secondary market for $55.

Photos of; James Cole on Silverado Trail, brass statue that is their bottle logo & their private tasting room. — 2 years ago

Rob Iracane

9.0

Surprisingly refined and restrained expression of Pinot noir. Paired with polenta and chicken not too overly seasoned to hide the subtlety of the wine. — 4 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

One of my favorite accessible, all purpose Cali Chardonnays on the market right now. Summer night jasmine and faint vanilla, honeysuckle and lemon curd aromas. The subtlest hint of Chablis-like salinity. Light to medium body. Some white peach nectarine creeping in on the finish. Creamy - but more like 2% milk than butter. What it lacks in flavor complexity and finesse it makes up for with zest, precision and balance. Paired with weeknight-whatever’s-left-in-the-fridge carbonara. — 6 years ago