Hendricks Wines
Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
As good as the Baron Fuentes is, our carbon reduction celebratory bottle is the Hendricks Cabernet. It was meant to be an 09 but, I couldn’t find my 09’s. Hazards of having nine cabinets & recently reorganized it.
I was inspired by @Paul T- Huntington Beach Hendricks Cabernet post a week ago & seeing @Eric Shanks Hope & Grace Post last night, which Charles Hendricks makes as well!
When first I decanted this 12, I can’t remember such beautiful florals on a wine that quickly. Florals wrapped in caramel & mocha. The florals have tamed a bit and the caramel, mocha & spices have picked up.
The thing about Charles’s wines, he is master of making elegant wines that drink really well young and will improve with 10-20 years in bottle. He is one of a handful of Winemakers that can truly do that really well.
The nose roars ripe, ruby, florals fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries and haunting cranberries & pomegranate. Warm caramel, mocha, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, dark cola, black licorice, dark, rich, sweet soils, dark spices, limestone, dry crushed rocks, herbaceousness-bay leaf dominate, hint of pipe tobacco, some dry stems with exotic, slightly candied, fresh & withering, red, dark, blue florals set in a bouquet of violets & lavender.
The body is rich, round & full. The tannins are round, tarry, chewy, dusty and still show a lot of power. The structure, tension, length and balance are just starting to hit their stride. This 12 has another 15-20 years of good evolution ahead. It is simply gorgeous & sexy as it caresses the palate. Ripe, ruby, florals fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, boysenberries, black raspberries, hints of blue fruits, poached strawberries and haunting cranberries & pomegranate. Warm caramel, mocha, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, sweet tarriness, dark French expresso roast, vanilla, dark cola, black licorice, dark, rich, sweet soils, dark spices with big palate heat, limestone, dry crushed rocks, soft leathery notes, toasted barrel shavings, herbaceousness-bay leaf dominant, hints of pipe tobacco, some dry stems with exotic, slightly candied, fresh & withering, red, dark, blue florals set in a bouquet of violets & lavender. The acidity is big & very enjoyable vs. the alcohol & complexity of this cuvée. The long finish is ridiculously, gorgeous, sexy, well balanced & polished with extremely persistent dark spice on the long set. It is memorable for many minutes and for weeks/months with the mental impressions it leaves behind.
With another 5-8 years in bottle, this wine hits 98-100.
What a bottle to celebrate carbon free. #SavetheVineyards
As good as the Baron Fuentes is, our carbon reduction celebratory bottle is the Hendricks Cabernet. It was meant to be an 09 but, I couldn’t find my 09’s. Hazards of having nine cabinets & recently reorganized it.
I was inspired by @Paul T- Huntington Beach Hendricks Cabernet post a week ago & seeing @Eric Shanks Hope & Grace Post last night, which Charles Hendricks makes as well!
When first I decanted this 12, I can’t remember such beautiful florals on a wine that quickly. Florals wrapped in caramel & mocha. The florals have tamed a bit and the caramel, mocha & spices have picked up.
The thing about Charles’s wines, he is master of making elegant wines that drink really well young and will improve with 10-20 years in bottle. He is one of a handful of Winemakers that can truly do that really well.
The nose roars ripe, ruby, florals fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries and haunting cranberries & pomegranate. Warm caramel, mocha, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, dark cola, black licorice, dark, rich, sweet soils, dark spices, limestone, dry crushed rocks, herbaceousness-bay leaf dominate, hint of pipe tobacco, some dry stems with exotic, slightly candied, fresh & withering, red, dark, blue florals set in a bouquet of violets & lavender.
The body is rich, round & full. The tannins are round, tarry, chewy, dusty and still show a lot of power. The structure, tension, length and balance are just starting to hit their stride. This 12 has another 15-20 years of good evolution ahead. It is simply gorgeous & sexy as it caresses the palate. Ripe, ruby, florals fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, boysenberries, black raspberries, hints of blue fruits, poached strawberries and haunting cranberries & pomegranate. Warm caramel, mocha, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, sweet tarriness, dark French expresso roast, vanilla, dark cola, black licorice, dark, rich, sweet soils, dark spices with big palate heat, limestone, dry crushed rocks, soft leathery notes, toasted barrel shavings, herbaceousness-bay leaf dominant, hints of pipe tobacco, some dry stems with exotic, slightly candied, fresh & withering, red, dark, blue florals set in a bouquet of violets & lavender. The acidity is big & very enjoyable vs. the alcohol & complexity of this cuvée. The long finish is ridiculously, gorgeous, sexy, well balanced & polished with extremely persistent dark spice on the long set. It is memorable for many minutes and for weeks/months with the mental impressions it leaves behind.
With another 5-8 years in bottle, this wine hits 98-100.
What a bottle to celebrate carbon free. #SavetheVineyards
Love the nose, hate the wax!
14.2 abv
@David Trumper recommend & Im glad he did, I really like this one
Love the nose, hate the wax!
14.2 abv
@David Trumper recommend & Im glad he did, I really like this one
Bowl full of graphite, dark muddled fruits, and oak shadings...then a mouth full of spicy plum, cocoa, bright tar, and cassis....tannins are fleshy and coating...this is evolving and more complex as its sits in the glass....
Bowl full of graphite, dark muddled fruits, and oak shadings...then a mouth full of spicy plum, cocoa, bright tar, and cassis....tannins are fleshy and coating...this is evolving and more complex as its sits in the glass....
1 person found it helpfulApr 30th, 2016Had my first bottle 88 weeks ago, a little age has brought this up a couple points. Great nose & fantastic on P&P. Wish I had more. I can’t think of a better 2012🤔 definitely worth the $150.00
Great recommendation from@David T
Had my first bottle 88 weeks ago, a little age has brought this up a couple points. Great nose & fantastic on P&P. Wish I had more. I can’t think of a better 2012🤔 definitely worth the $150.00
Great recommendation from@David T
Loved the classic style of the Hendricks, but Morlet was great as well, can't pick a favorite enjoyed both of them for different reasons,
Took both to Grad party,
Loved the classic style of the Hendricks, but Morlet was great as well, can't pick a favorite enjoyed both of them for different reasons,
Took both to Grad party,
