Hendricks Wines

Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

9.440 ratings
9.48 pro ratings
Santa Lucia Highlands, Central Coast, California, USA
Pinot Noir
Turkey, Game, Exotic Spices, Soft Cheese, Duck, Goose, Salads & Greens, Potato, Quinoa, Farro, Brown Rice, White Rice, Pasta, Herbs, Nuts & Seeds, Mushrooms, Chicken, Meaty & Oily Fish, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Stew, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Salmon, Quinoa, Shellfish
Top Notes For
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

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.

Sep 3rd, 2023
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

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.

Jul 5th, 2020
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

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.

Feb 18th, 2019
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

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
Billy L.

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!

Jun 20th, 2023
Eric

Definitely a hold yet a winner now.

Definitely a hold yet a winner now.

Oct 22nd, 2022
Eric

Black cherry, orange peel, and dirt.

Black cherry, orange peel, and dirt.

Sep 17th, 2022
Eric

Total knockout. Black cherry silky greatness.

Total knockout. Black cherry silky greatness.

May 27th, 2022
Stuart Scheff

@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
Paul T HB

2 hour Decant👍🏼🧫
Winery notes as follows,

Doctor's Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
This particular vineyard is an east facing sweeping shelf of eroded sandy loam soil, which is buffeted by cool, semi foggy winds every afternoon.
The benefits to growing great Pinot Noir in this area is that the soils are well drained, allowing the vines to focus on maturing the fruit, while the coolness of the afternoon winds extends the growing season. With the additional time on the vine, the fruit develops big bold flavors and a fuller, hardier structure than most other areas growing Pinot. Deep fruit, darker color are consistent attributes to this vineyard, and that is why we appreciate all the hard work done by the Hahn Estate to deliver us superior fruit every year.

2 hour Decant👍🏼🧫
Winery notes as follows,

Doctor's Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
This particular vineyard is an east facing sweeping shelf of eroded sandy loam soil, which is buffeted by cool, semi foggy winds every afternoon.
The benefits to growing great Pinot Noir in this area is that the soils are well drained, allowing the vines to focus on maturing the fruit, while the coolness of the afternoon winds extends the growing season. With the additional time on the vine, the fruit develops big bold flavors and a fuller, hardier structure than most other areas growing Pinot. Deep fruit, darker color are consistent attributes to this vineyard, and that is why we appreciate all the hard work done by the Hahn Estate to deliver us superior fruit every year.

Dec 18th, 2020