Pinotman /// Andreas

9.6

Like a Burgh - no difference. Franken Pinot (FP). Schlepped this all the way from this super remote winery my 2nd bottle. Stumbled onto this wine because Jancis Robinson recommended this (after all she used to be the Sommelier of the Queen of England). Suitcase import. 13.5% world class - really. Roses on the nose. In the glass faint cherries, blackberries, elderberry (just bought a plant we used to make jam), red currants. Back palate hard to define Za'atar (the plant) - Screw Cap (a strange choice for such quality juice). I know this wine is inaccessible for most folks on this website - sorry. But Franken is a very interesting wine region. The soil is by the way limestone - so it is classic for Pinot. I walked the vineyards - very off the beaten path - even for Germany. — 8 months ago

John Tan

9.0

Path Tokyo with Yoshi and Quinn. Quite distinct. Notes of herbs? — 3 years ago

Kevin Løk

9.1

Runner-up for Wine Of The Night but definitely the pleasant surprise of the night. Little funky nose and not particularly effervescent for a sparkler. Acidity is muted and feels like a “real wine” as opposed to those chemically enhanced science experiments that pass for luxury wine life in some quarters. Definitely would serve this to my most discerning guests like @Sam Shepard @Brendan Devine and if I could be so blessed, the GOATs of the wine world like @Ron R @Mike R @Willie Carter, a little something off the beaten path. — 5 years ago

with Caroline

Scott

9.2

Buttery. Vanilla. Lemon. Smooth. Very good — 6 years ago

Veronica Castro

9.0

Destroys all other 1L Gruner Veltliners in its path. Sunny, crisp, lemony. High-toned. Downright delicious. 12.5% abv. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On the nose, ripe, ruby, fruits of; mulberry, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, black cherries, blueberries & creamy raspberries. Vanilla, hints of sweet tarriness, black licorice, whiff of spice, soft understated limestone minerals & crushed rock powder, fruity black tea, hint of fresh herbaceousness, rich, black turned earth, fresh dark floral bouquet and fields of lavender & violets.

The body is rich, ripe & full. The tannins are a little sticky but well softened, round and a touch chewy. The structure, tension, length, balance, tension and balance are very close to perfect and harmonious. Fruits are; mulberry, huckleberry, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, black cherries & creamy raspberries. Vanilla, hints of sweet tarriness, black licorice, whiff of spice, soft understated limestone minerals & crushed rock powder, fruity black tea, hint of fresh herbaceousness, rich, black turned earth, fresh dark floral bouquet and fields of lavender & violets. The acidity is round and rains like a waterfall perfectly over the palate. The very long, ruby, rich, well balance lasts minutes and is absolutely heavenly. Gorgeous, elegant, stunning wine.

Photos of; the vertical tasting we attended of all Hendricks Cabernets; 04, 05, 09 & 12 at the time w/ one of our favorite paintings in the background, Charles Hendricks working in the cellar, very old rootstock from the Stag’s Leap Vineyard where the fruit to make this wine normally comes from and a wide shot of the Stag’s Leap Vineyard.

Producer notes and history...Hendricks Cabernet Sauvignon is consistently sourced from a few of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards. In those near perfect vintages, Charles only makes a small production wine of around 250-300 cases. Charles only produces it when he has exception fruit. He’s made Hendricks Cabernet in; 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012 & 2014. Notice he didn’t make Hendricks Cabernet in a great vintage year like 2013. He wasn’t happy enough with his fruit in 2013 to put his name on it. That says a lot and maybe all you need to know about his standard for quality. I do know what wine his 13 fruit made as I’ve had and it’s an unbelievable wine for far less money.

Charles also makes a fantastic Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands that is really quite amazing. Especially, if you give it 5 or 6 years in bottle. All his wines are sold exclusively through the Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville as he is also the Hope & Grace Winemaker.

Charles graduated in 1982 from UC Davis in viticulture. He was also able to tailor his own curriculum and was one of the earliest to integrate winemaking and viticulture course work. Having knowledge of both viticulture and enology forms the basis for his well-rounded winemaking.

Over the years Charles has worked in both Napa and Sonoma Counties, gaining hands on experience in all aspects of winemaking. He has a strong reputation for excellence. In his career, he’s been a consulting winemaker for many wineries; Viader, Barnett Vineyards, Paoletti Vineyards, Regusci Winery, James Cole, T-Vine and Tamayo family Vineyard.

I asked Charles, “how does he make wines that are amazingly good in their youth but will age effortlessly for 15-20 years?” His answer was simply this, “its not that hard, you just have to know the perfect time to harvest fruit.” I would agree with that to a degree. But, you also have to know how to gently guide fruit onto it’s path into the barrel and not get in the wine’s way or overwork the process. — 8 years ago

ESF

8.9

ask the wine guy for something unusual, something off the beaten path and he recommends this delicious dry 100% Palomino w/some bottle age: definitely a food wine, light greenish straw color w/fairly austere nose full of minerals, lanolin, herbaceous musk, white flowers (jasmine), ginger & some spices. on palate it is rigid & angular, zesty acidity, some citrus but mostly minerals & herbs, quinine, screams for briny foods - we had this w/deli section fare & salad. — 8 months ago

Natalie Jacobs

9.5

Very yummy!! Dry, but fruity. The owner was very friendly and chatted with us about the wine making process. The winery was beautiful and off the beaten path! — 3 years ago

Scott Kahn

9.2

Beautiful nose of sous bois and gravel path - complexity enhanced by wonderful minerality. Still tannic, but remarkably enjoyable even in its youth. — 4 years ago

Joshua K Hall

9.5

Fantastic. Smooth even after just poured — 6 years ago

Flyingfish55

9.2

Thought this was great! — 6 years ago

Emily Golden

9.2

Great, easy drinking red. Smooth with brambly fruit and a bit of cherry, finishing with a smooth spice note. Really crowd-pleasing. — 8 years ago

Scott Thielbar

9.0

Smooth impressive Zin from Aldi - good deal — 8 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.1

Nice. Plenty of cherry - a lot! Very enjoyable. Totally if the driven path road. Found by accident. Roses. Leather. — 2 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.6

1998 vintage. This estate was acquired in 1972 by former Château Yquem régisseur Pierre Meslier ( who passed away in 2023 at the age of 93). He managed to restore the wines to their former glory, and his 3 children seem to continue on the same path. This 1998 features a brilliant, golden colour, and a nose that immediately shows off the typical roasted botrytis aromas that characterise great Sauternes, intertwined with honey, beewax, maple syrup, lemon confit and flowers. In the mouth, it is succulent and profound, wonderfully achieving that delicate balance between sugar and acidity that makes Sauternes potentially great. Layers of dried and fresh fruit, rich and refreshing at the same time, culminating in a very long finish with a lovely almondy impression. Excellent. Abv. 13,5%. — 2 years ago

Will Rogers

8.9

Lamb dinner at home — 5 years ago

Stephanie Carnegie

8.9

Pretty good for the price, dry with dark fruits — 6 years ago

Deborah M

9.2

I wanted something nice tonight. This was perfect. Winemaker Kurt Venge offers a Burgundian style to Sonoma. Red fruits and plush velvet finish. Definitely worth seeking out this off the beaten path wine. — 6 years ago

Amy Yan

8.9

Good job James! Off the beaten path but delicious. I don't normally gravitate towards wine with minerals but this one was nice. — 8 years ago

with James

Severn G

8.9

No. 2 on off the beaten path varietals tonight, just getting some air now...
Interesting for sure, mild smokey bacon, dried autumn leaves and some acidity lingers, looking forward to the evolution on this bottle, I think. — 8 years ago