Lauren Golanty

9.0

Tasty! Subtle! Good with food! Dry AF! From Independent Spirits! — 4 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is a non vintage blend and where the Hendricks fruit goes when Charles doesn’t deem it perfect for his private label Hendricks. This is what I miss from the new winemaker at James Cole, it is very elegant.

The palate is round, lush, ruby, creamy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries, blue fruit hues. Dark and milk chocolate-more dark, caramel, black and some red licorice/cola, herbaceous notes, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather, sandalwood, barrel powder, soft Indian spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark, rich soil, a fresh dark and mid red floral bouquet, excellent round acidity with a well structured, knitted, very well balanced and polish for days. Lasts two minutes plus. — 10 months ago

David Bourke

9.5

Easy like a Sunday morning. Consistency of pasta water, quenched like fresh pear juice with a little honeysuckle tenderness. Could drink all day or all night and then all day again, no judgement here. Because after two glasses, that’s kinda what I wanna do. On the Mediterranean. With a James Bond looking boat. And some Dickey Greenleaf fashion.

— 2 years ago

Rob Brobst III

10

PERFECTION!
A beautiful split of 50% Syrah and 32% Graciano and 18% Grenache all from the James Berry Vineyard. This full-bodied wine was fermented with whole clusters and barrel aged for two years in 50% new French oak. Deep blackberry fruit, rich and layered flavors of cassis and licorice with a subtle background meatiness. Drinking nicely on release, yet will evolve gracefully for over a decade.
— 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Leans into 9.4 after a two-three hour decant and in the closing sips.

Juicy mid fruits, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, black raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, some pomegranate, red licorice, grainy top soil to pebbles, black licorice, dry clay, dark, dry earth, dry herbs-Thyme, dry tobacco, cedar shavings, clove, cinnamon, vanillin, fresh red, dark & blue florals, rainfall acidity and a finish that is well structured, balanced, polished and lasts two-minutes. — 5 months ago

Paul K

9.3

92-93 2016 style - plush and approachable but not simple. Cherry and tobacco. Has great tannins that should help the other bottles age beautifully. Excited for the future of these!
@James K i might be hurting on our ride tomorrow! 70 miles in last two days and this is too good to keep for later! — 10 months ago

Ellen Clifford

9.0

I actually got into this for a night or too. I like it on the rocks—one or two big ones. The caraway vibe is strong but there’s hints of licorice too. Appealing and refreshing. — 2 years ago

Paul J

9.3

Paul Hobbs two nights in a row! Gold color. Very deep, thick wine with subtle acidity. Aged pineapple with stone fruits and subtle apricot, peach, and melon elements. Fairly unique and complex in my mind. I prefer other single vineyard Paul Hobbs Chards style wise but wasn’t bad by any means. 93.5 rounding up. — 5 months ago

with Brooke

Severn Goodwin

8.9

Nose has yellow apple peel, pear slice, straw and beach sand.

Palate has tangerine zest, ripe pear, under-ripe yellow peach, cold clementine orange with medium acidity and slightly dry finish.
A nice bottle; not sure if this wants more time, or a couple years past prime...

On the sold out (18K+ patrons) Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest Conductor Ken-David Masur is leading a 90th birthday celebration of John Williams. BSO soloists tonight are J. Williams Hudgins (vibraphone) & Jessica Zhou (harp), joined by Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Branford Marsalis (saxophone), Eric Revis (bass) and James Taylor (vocals/guitar). A truly wonderful night lay ahead, and my money is certainly on hearing at least one or two Star Wars movements this evening... — 2 years ago

Aravind A

9.4

Will follow over a few days. Pop and pour, 1 hr slow ox. On the nose: lovely black cherry, some soft notes of stem inclusion, with loads of savory character and dry leafy notes. On the palate: fantastic acidity, with loads of earthy red fruit, some asian spice...good density, and very lightweight, with some very soft grapeseed and spice notes on the finish. Well balanced, delicate and so yummy. @James Sparks the hits keep coming!

Day 3: This sat on the counter unrefrigerated for two nights. And on the third night: an absolutely sublime perfume wafted from the glass. Very good for drinking now, but if this btl is representative, this will clearly benefit from 6-10 years of cellar time. Updating rating after day 3..wow; stunning. — 3 years ago