Hall Wines
Ellie's Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
It was the end of the day when we arrived at Hall & I was burnt out writing detailed notes. So, I’m just going give you my notations.
I liked the Ellie’s. More than that, I like its style and the fact it drank so well with only two years in bottle. Ellie’s showed nice softness and integration. Similar wire to wire and simply delicious. You can drink it now and for the next 7-8 years. 2016 such a good Napa vintage & Hall did well.
Once I arrived at Hall, I remembered why I had left it to the back of my visit list for so long. It’s not that the wines aren’t good...they are and it’s a beautiful setting, it’s just a bit of a tasting factory.
It was the end of the day when we arrived at Hall & I was burnt out writing detailed notes. So, I’m just going give you my notations.
I liked the Ellie’s. More than that, I like its style and the fact it drank so well with only two years in bottle. Ellie’s showed nice softness and integration. Similar wire to wire and simply delicious. You can drink it now and for the next 7-8 years. 2016 such a good Napa vintage & Hall did well.
Once I arrived at Hall, I remembered why I had left it to the back of my visit list for so long. It’s not that the wines aren’t good...they are and it’s a beautiful setting, it’s just a bit of a tasting factory.
Named for Craig Hall's mother, Eleanor “Ellie” Hall, artist & teacher, her artwork graces the label. Blend of 94% Cab Sauv & 6% Merlot, aged for 24 months French oak (65% new), deep Ruby big aromas of rich dark dried fruit, hints of floral & herb spices. Palate shows black cherry & raspberry currant flavors, sweet touch of licorice, espresso & cacao as oak, beginning to integrate. Structured tannins, complex yet enjoyable, will continue to age. Long finish ending with a touch of sweetness. Outstanding! TS
Named for Craig Hall's mother, Eleanor “Ellie” Hall, artist & teacher, her artwork graces the label. Blend of 94% Cab Sauv & 6% Merlot, aged for 24 months French oak (65% new), deep Ruby big aromas of rich dark dried fruit, hints of floral & herb spices. Palate shows black cherry & raspberry currant flavors, sweet touch of licorice, espresso & cacao as oak, beginning to integrate. Structured tannins, complex yet enjoyable, will continue to age. Long finish ending with a touch of sweetness. Outstanding! TS
Oct 29th, 2019
The whole fruit spectrum is here...raspberries, underripe blueberries and juicy blackberries. Aromatically, it leans more red and black fruit dominant with cedar and graphite. Not quite dusty. The palate brings in a touch more darker fruits (blue), with overripe/mixed berry pie notes. Dense core. Shocked to see it’s 15.4ABV! Doesn’t seem that hot. Finish has some baking spices (cinnamon, cardamom) and an herbal twang I’m struggling to identify. Not overly complex. Classic, “fruit forward” Napa cab without hitting the jammy/fruit bomb threshold. Not declining but not sure it’s getting much better.
Update 2hrs in: nose has evolved and is showing charcoal and smoked meat. Nice improvement.
The whole fruit spectrum is here...raspberries, underripe blueberries and juicy blackberries. Aromatically, it leans more red and black fruit dominant with cedar and graphite. Not quite dusty. The palate brings in a touch more darker fruits (blue), with overripe/mixed berry pie notes. Dense core. Shocked to see it’s 15.4ABV! Doesn’t seem that hot. Finish has some baking spices (cinnamon, cardamom) and an herbal twang I’m struggling to identify. Not overly complex. Classic, “fruit forward” Napa cab without hitting the jammy/fruit bomb threshold. Not declining but not sure it’s getting much better.
Update 2hrs in: nose has evolved and is showing charcoal and smoked meat. Nice improvement.
Hall cabernet sauvignon - Ellie’s 2014 - Ellie has done it!!!!! PURE BUTTER!!!!
Better spice and everything nice blackberry jam with the slam. This is a dark beautiful cab from Cali! This one needed one hour to decant. The bouquet is blackberry and cherry soda. The initial palate is full of dark fruits like currants, blackberries, figs, and grapes. The mid palate comes quick with silky buttery thickness. There is a taste of spice and black pepper. The finish is still buttery with a semi dry oaky ending. The next time someone orders butter, this will be my pick. The only drawback is a slight tart ending on the roof of my mouth and the edges of my tongue.
Hall cabernet sauvignon - Ellie’s 2014 - Ellie has done it!!!!! PURE BUTTER!!!!
Better spice and everything nice blackberry jam with the slam. This is a dark beautiful cab from Cali! This one needed one hour to decant. The bouquet is blackberry and cherry soda. The initial palate is full of dark fruits like currants, blackberries, figs, and grapes. The mid palate comes quick with silky buttery thickness. There is a taste of spice and black pepper. The finish is still buttery with a semi dry oaky ending. The next time someone orders butter, this will be my pick. The only drawback is a slight tart ending on the roof of my mouth and the edges of my tongue.
We had the 2015 Vintage on 5/25/20. An excellent Napa Cab that is well balanced and fruit forward. Tastes of cherry, raspberry plum and oak are in a wine that has a wonderful mouth feel. Excellent value. As this is young, two hours of aeration were needed to smooth out the tannins
We had the 2015 Vintage on 5/25/20. An excellent Napa Cab that is well balanced and fruit forward. Tastes of cherry, raspberry plum and oak are in a wine that has a wonderful mouth feel. Excellent value. As this is young, two hours of aeration were needed to smooth out the tannins
1 person found it helpfulMay 25th, 2020Big fan. Violets, blackberry, oak spice and a hint of bell pepper. Really nicely balanced. Acidity, fruit and tannins all playing nicely.
Big fan. Violets, blackberry, oak spice and a hint of bell pepper. Really nicely balanced. Acidity, fruit and tannins all playing nicely.
1 person found it helpfulOct 23rd, 2016
Holy Napa! This thoroughly blasted my delicate Oregon palate. Blackberry liqueur, cassis, oak. Gigantic, and pleasing.
Holy Napa! This thoroughly blasted my delicate Oregon palate. Blackberry liqueur, cassis, oak. Gigantic, and pleasing.
1 person found it helpfulMar 3rd, 2016
Miss tasting these beauties on a regular basis.
Miss tasting these beauties on a regular basis.
1 person found it helpfulNov 5th, 2015Slightly dry, long mouthfeel. Great for a 2011. Better than their napa cab.
Slightly dry, long mouthfeel. Great for a 2011. Better than their napa cab.
1 person found it helpfulJun 29th, 2014
Ripe, round but balanced in the end with lean, long tannins.
Ripe, round but balanced in the end with lean, long tannins.
Aug 28th, 2015