Hendricks Wines
Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands, Central Coast, California, USA
I had this back in July of 2023. The reading is largely the same, but the integration and evolution are much better.
Charles Hendricks made one of the best CA Pinot Noirs I’ve ever had. His 2008 Hendricks Santa Lucia, Highlands was spectacular.
Charles Hendricks is one of the best and largely unknown winemakers in Northern California.
The nose is soft, ripe; blackberries, both plums, black raspberries, cinnamon, light smoke, grilled meats,?soft wood shavings, elegant and understated baking spices, touch of smoke, anise to black licorice, red roses, dark flowers, and violets 
The palate entry is ripe, touch rich, beautifully floral; blackberries, both plums, black raspberries, poached strawberries, mid berry cola, soft, new oak barrel powder, smoke, dark spice with a little bit of palate heat, forest floor with leaves, dry tobacco, Understated dry leather elegant and understated baking spices, touch of smoke, anise to black licorice, red roses, dark flowers, and violets, rainfall acidity and a finish that is very well balanced, integrated, well-toned, nicely structured, lasts nearly 90 seconds to two-minutes and long sets on earth and spice.
Photos of; the San Lucia Highlands, the new Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville and Charles Hendricks.
I had this back in July of 2023. The reading is largely the same, but the integration and evolution are much better.
Charles Hendricks made one of the best CA Pinot Noirs I’ve ever had. His 2008 Hendricks Santa Lucia, Highlands was spectacular.
Charles Hendricks is one of the best and largely unknown winemakers in Northern California.
The nose is soft, ripe; blackberries, both plums, black raspberries, cinnamon, light smoke, grilled meats,?soft wood shavings, elegant and understated baking spices, touch of smoke, anise to black licorice, red roses, dark flowers, and violets 
The palate entry is ripe, touch rich, beautifully floral; blackberries, both plums, black raspberries, poached strawberries, mid berry cola, soft, new oak barrel powder, smoke, dark spice with a little bit of palate heat, forest floor with leaves, dry tobacco, Understated dry leather elegant and understated baking spices, touch of smoke, anise to black licorice, red roses, dark flowers, and violets, rainfall acidity and a finish that is very well balanced, integrated, well-toned, nicely structured, lasts nearly 90 seconds to two-minutes and long sets on earth and spice.
Photos of; the San Lucia Highlands, the new Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville and Charles Hendricks.
The Hendricks Pinot from the Doctors Vineyard in Santa Lucia. 11 barrels made. 22 months in French oak. I don’t know what everyone is used to but a Pinot 22 months in French oak is far more rare than common. This is my first look from the four bottles I’ve stored. Roughly eight years is the timing for first look.
This may be the best CA Pinot I have consistently yr over yr. The fruit is ripe, dry-ish, slightly tart; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, notes of blueberries, raspberries, dry cranberries & strawberries. Beautiful mid spices, nutmeg, cinnamon-cinnamon stick, vanillin, mid to dark berry cola, dry brush, dry clay, loamy, limestone volcanics, dark, dry soil, dark chocolate baking bar, crushed dry rocks, notes of not quite eucalyptus, tree bark w/ sap, fresh & slightly withering, dark, red, blue florals framed in subtle violets, near perfect acidity with a nicely structured, well balanced, velvety/silky, consistent wire to wire finish that lasts a minute and half. Simply amazing palate.
Good first look but better things ahead for my next bottle(s). Another 15 plus years of half drinking ahead.
Happy Labor Day weekend.
The Hendricks Pinot from the Doctors Vineyard in Santa Lucia. 11 barrels made. 22 months in French oak. I don’t know what everyone is used to but a Pinot 22 months in French oak is far more rare than common. This is my first look from the four bottles I’ve stored. Roughly eight years is the timing for first look.
This may be the best CA Pinot I have consistently yr over yr. The fruit is ripe, dry-ish, slightly tart; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, notes of blueberries, raspberries, dry cranberries & strawberries. Beautiful mid spices, nutmeg, cinnamon-cinnamon stick, vanillin, mid to dark berry cola, dry brush, dry clay, loamy, limestone volcanics, dark, dry soil, dark chocolate baking bar, crushed dry rocks, notes of not quite eucalyptus, tree bark w/ sap, fresh & slightly withering, dark, red, blue florals framed in subtle violets, near perfect acidity with a nicely structured, well balanced, velvety/silky, consistent wire to wire finish that lasts a minute and half. Simply amazing palate.
Good first look but better things ahead for my next bottle(s). Another 15 plus years of half drinking ahead.
Happy Labor Day weekend.
Charles strikes again.
I said weeks ago, I’d rather drink Charles Hendricks Pinot in futures @ $75 vs. the 09 Marcassin we had two weeks back @ $150+ winery or $225+ on the secondary market. This 14, while still young, proves that point and will only continue to get better.
It’s about as luxurious as Ca Pinot gets. Just supple, soft & elegant as body gets. Candied, floral fruits of ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, lean purple fruits, dry cranberries, strawberries, plums, delicate but darks spices, cinnamon stick, vanillin, nutmeg & touch clove, salted caramel, mocha powder, limestone & grey volcanics, dry crushed rocks hints of peppered grilled meats, fresh & dry tobacco, dry stems/twigs, sage dominated dry Provence herbs, splash of mint/eucalyptus, tree sap with bright candied, fresh & slightly withering florals of; dark, red, purple, blue set in a field of violets & some lavender. The acidity is perfect. The long finish is; extremely well balanced & polished, elegant, fresh, just the right amount of candied with a long, dark spice finish in the long set.
The 14 really started to excel after an hour plus in the decanter.
Photos of; the outside of the Hope & Grace tasting room in downtown Yountville where you will find Charles Hendricks wines. He makes Hope & Grace wines as well. One of my favorite paintings that used to sit behind their tasting bar but, is now in Charles house. It is very Pollock like! Winemaker/Co-owner Charles Hendricks and a vineyard in region of the Santa Lucia Highlands.
Charles strikes again.
I said weeks ago, I’d rather drink Charles Hendricks Pinot in futures @ $75 vs. the 09 Marcassin we had two weeks back @ $150+ winery or $225+ on the secondary market. This 14, while still young, proves that point and will only continue to get better.
It’s about as luxurious as Ca Pinot gets. Just supple, soft & elegant as body gets. Candied, floral fruits of ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, lean purple fruits, dry cranberries, strawberries, plums, delicate but darks spices, cinnamon stick, vanillin, nutmeg & touch clove, salted caramel, mocha powder, limestone & grey volcanics, dry crushed rocks hints of peppered grilled meats, fresh & dry tobacco, dry stems/twigs, sage dominated dry Provence herbs, splash of mint/eucalyptus, tree sap with bright candied, fresh & slightly withering florals of; dark, red, purple, blue set in a field of violets & some lavender. The acidity is perfect. The long finish is; extremely well balanced & polished, elegant, fresh, just the right amount of candied with a long, dark spice finish in the long set.
The 14 really started to excel after an hour plus in the decanter.
Photos of; the outside of the Hope & Grace tasting room in downtown Yountville where you will find Charles Hendricks wines. He makes Hope & Grace wines as well. One of my favorite paintings that used to sit behind their tasting bar but, is now in Charles house. It is very Pollock like! Winemaker/Co-owner Charles Hendricks and a vineyard in region of the Santa Lucia Highlands.
Charles Hendricks makes perhaps the best domestic Pinot Noir I’ve had. The 2008 I had 3-4 years ago is the only domestic Pinot Noir I’ve given a score of 9.8. This 2014 could end up rivaling it with a few more years of bottle evolution.
The nose is beautifully layered, fruit, earth, herbaceousness and spices. Ripe, brightly floral and creamy; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, blueberries, baked strawberries, pomegranate extract, raspberries and dry cranberries. Vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, soft, dark spices, dark berry cola/licorice, rich & dry dark soils, limestone minerals, touch of eucalyptus & sage, dark chocolate, understated tarriness, hints of smokiness & grilled meats, used charcoal, underbrush and dark red & blue floral, violet with haunting light lavender.
The 2014 has some of the best palate florals I’ve experienced. The body is round, full and gorgeous. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious and beautifully stitched together. The acidity is like a warm rain shower. Ripe, brightly floral and creamy; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, blueberries, baked strawberries, pomegranate extract, raspberries and dry cranberries. Vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, soft, dark spices, dark berry cola/licorice, rich & dry dark soils, limestone minerals, touch of eucalyptus & sage, dark chocolate with a little milk layered over the top, mocha powder, salted caramel, understated tarriness, hints of smokiness & grilled meats, used charcoal, underbrush and dark red & blue floral, violet with haunting light lavender. The well balanced, elegantly sexy, finish is pure beauty that persists for several minutes.
This wine has all the makings of pushing a perfect score.
Photos of; a Santa Lucia Highlands vineyard, a paint from one of my favorite modern artists that hangs in the Hope & Grace tasting room where Hendricks wines can be purchased, Winemaker-Charles Hendricks and a vertical Pinot tasting on the bar in the Hope & Grace tasting room with my favorite painting from their resident artist that used to hang in their tasting room behind it but, now hangs in Charles house.
Charles Hendricks makes perhaps the best domestic Pinot Noir I’ve had. The 2008 I had 3-4 years ago is the only domestic Pinot Noir I’ve given a score of 9.8. This 2014 could end up rivaling it with a few more years of bottle evolution.
The nose is beautifully layered, fruit, earth, herbaceousness and spices. Ripe, brightly floral and creamy; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, blueberries, baked strawberries, pomegranate extract, raspberries and dry cranberries. Vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, soft, dark spices, dark berry cola/licorice, rich & dry dark soils, limestone minerals, touch of eucalyptus & sage, dark chocolate, understated tarriness, hints of smokiness & grilled meats, used charcoal, underbrush and dark red & blue floral, violet with haunting light lavender.
The 2014 has some of the best palate florals I’ve experienced. The body is round, full and gorgeous. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious and beautifully stitched together. The acidity is like a warm rain shower. Ripe, brightly floral and creamy; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, blueberries, baked strawberries, pomegranate extract, raspberries and dry cranberries. Vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, soft, dark spices, dark berry cola/licorice, rich & dry dark soils, limestone minerals, touch of eucalyptus & sage, dark chocolate with a little milk layered over the top, mocha powder, salted caramel, understated tarriness, hints of smokiness & grilled meats, used charcoal, underbrush and dark red & blue floral, violet with haunting light lavender. The well balanced, elegantly sexy, finish is pure beauty that persists for several minutes.
This wine has all the makings of pushing a perfect score.
Photos of; a Santa Lucia Highlands vineyard, a paint from one of my favorite modern artists that hangs in the Hope & Grace tasting room where Hendricks wines can be purchased, Winemaker-Charles Hendricks and a vertical Pinot tasting on the bar in the Hope & Grace tasting room with my favorite painting from their resident artist that used to hang in their tasting room behind it but, now hangs in Charles house.
For a Californian Pinot, Burgundian like! Soft, smooth and elegant. Plum, cranberry, cherry, hint of smoke, cinnamon and mix of baking spices; nutmeg and relaxed interwoven Allspice. A beautiful and elegant wine. Amen Chuck!
For a Californian Pinot, Burgundian like! Soft, smooth and elegant. Plum, cranberry, cherry, hint of smoke, cinnamon and mix of baking spices; nutmeg and relaxed interwoven Allspice. A beautiful and elegant wine. Amen Chuck!
1 person found it helpfulFeb 22nd, 2015
Hope & Grace Tasting Room Visit- Yountville, CA / Charles Hendricks -Owner Winemaker: 2016 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻
@Delectable Wine FYI…Every Vintage entered is altered & registers incorrectly on your App. -
CMON’ spend a couple bucks on IT!
Hope & Grace Tasting Room Visit- Yountville, CA / Charles Hendricks -Owner Winemaker: 2016 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻
@Delectable Wine FYI…Every Vintage entered is altered & registers incorrectly on your App. -
CMON’ spend a couple bucks on IT!
Total knockout. Black cherry silky greatness.
Total knockout. Black cherry silky greatness.
May 27th, 2022
@Paul T- Huntington Beach Paul is correct again. Charles Hendricks kicks ass. This Pinot rocks.
@Paul T- Huntington Beach Paul is correct again. Charles Hendricks kicks ass. This Pinot rocks.
Jan 14th, 2022