Hammell Wine Alliance

Hommage a Francois Durif No. 1 Red Blend

9.74 ratings
-no pro ratings
California, USA
Red Blend
Game, Baking Spices, Duck, Goose, Potato, Chili & Hot Spicy, White Rice, Exotic Spices, Pasta, Herbs, Beans & Peas, Onion, Chicken, Pork, Venison, Salami & Prosciutto, Pungent Cheese, Soft Cheese, Mushrooms, Tomato-Based, Turkey, Veal, Hard Cheese
Top Notes For
Joe Conti

What a lovely wine. Congrats @Hammell. It is understated yet seductive. Blueberries and graphite with subtle notes of lavender and baking spices. Long finish. Wish I had more than one of these!

What a lovely wine. Congrats @Hammell. It is understated yet seductive. Blueberries and graphite with subtle notes of lavender and baking spices. Long finish. Wish I had more than one of these!

1 person found it helpfulSep 13th, 2015
Jeffrey Winick

What an extraordinary wine. The first word that comes to mind is voluptuous. So this is quite the hedonistic experience. But the balance is impeccable. The purity is amazing. And the finish goes on forever. Consider that this is the first release of this wine and you begin to appreciate the extraordinary potential of this winery. Well done Chris!!

What an extraordinary wine. The first word that comes to mind is voluptuous. So this is quite the hedonistic experience. But the balance is impeccable. The purity is amazing. And the finish goes on forever. Consider that this is the first release of this wine and you begin to appreciate the extraordinary potential of this winery. Well done Chris!!

1 person found it helpfulMay 18th, 2015
Ken Kailin

Crazy great petite sirah from Krankel SQN disciple. Wonderfully rich yet balanced.

Crazy great petite sirah from Krankel SQN disciple. Wonderfully rich yet balanced.

1 person found it helpfulMay 18th, 2015
Paul T- Huntington Beach

If it didn’t have such a weird name I probably wouldn’t have bought it, hefty decant needed but 😳👍🏼
Wine Advocate 95,
Reviewed by Jeb when he was with Parker,


Showing beautifully from barrel and not disappointing from bottle, the 2012 Hommage a Francois Durif No. 1 (I reviewed this last year as the Petite Sirah) is a blend of 100% Petite Sirah that's certainly one of the finest examples of this variety coming out of California. Inky colored and a big, voluptuous and decadent beauty, it offers terrific notes of blackcurrants, plum, toasted spice, leather, graphite and espresso. Full-bodied, concentrated, rich and yet always balanced and light on its feet, it has sensational purity of fruit, a big, rich mid-palate and tons of sweet tannin that coat the palate and lengthen the finish. I wouldn't open another bottle for 2-3 years, but it will have 15-20 years of longevity.

If it didn’t have such a weird name I probably wouldn’t have bought it, hefty decant needed but 😳👍🏼
Wine Advocate 95,
Reviewed by Jeb when he was with Parker,


Showing beautifully from barrel and not disappointing from bottle, the 2012 Hommage a Francois Durif No. 1 (I reviewed this last year as the Petite Sirah) is a blend of 100% Petite Sirah that's certainly one of the finest examples of this variety coming out of California. Inky colored and a big, voluptuous and decadent beauty, it offers terrific notes of blackcurrants, plum, toasted spice, leather, graphite and espresso. Full-bodied, concentrated, rich and yet always balanced and light on its feet, it has sensational purity of fruit, a big, rich mid-palate and tons of sweet tannin that coat the palate and lengthen the finish. I wouldn't open another bottle for 2-3 years, but it will have 15-20 years of longevity.

Jan 16th, 2021