Hope & Grace
Doctor's Vineyard Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands, Central Coast, California, USA
Still detoxing from Napa & Bordeaux Cabernet.
The nose reveals; dark cassis with some currants, some tarriness, hint of savory, smoked meats, black licorice to the core of anise, blackberries, black cherries, pomegranate extract, dry cranberries, some plum & blue fruits, dark fruit cola, liqueur notes, limestone minerals, some crushed rock powder, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, light vanilla, hints of sage & bay leaf, dark rich forest floor with dry leaves, dark fresh & withering flowers with a touch of bright red florals.
The body is on the fuller and richer side of Pinot. The wine is beautifully elegant across the palate. For a wine not coming from my best storage, this has held up nicely and showing far more complexity and integration than say a year ago. The structure & tension are still firm while the length and balance are approaching its high point. Dark cassis with some currants, some tarriness, hint of savory, smoked meats, black licorice to the core of anise, blackberries, black cherries, pomegranate extract, dry cranberries, some creamy black raspberries, mashed strawberries flesh, plum & blue fruits, raisins, dark fruit cola, liqueur notes, limestone minerals, some crushed rock powder, dark, long lasting spices with some heat, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, light vanilla, hints of sage & bay leaf, dark rich forest floor with dry leaves, dark fresh & withering flowers with a touch of bright red florals. The acidity is quite nice with well balanced fruit & earth finish that is persistent for minutes.
Photos of; Hope & Grace’s Stag’s Leap Vineyard, a very old vine which, I would say is 60 plus years old, Winemaker-Charles Hendricks willing to still do the heavy lifting and one of my favorite paintings that used to be in the Hope & Grace tasting room but, now is in Charles house.
Still detoxing from Napa & Bordeaux Cabernet.
The nose reveals; dark cassis with some currants, some tarriness, hint of savory, smoked meats, black licorice to the core of anise, blackberries, black cherries, pomegranate extract, dry cranberries, some plum & blue fruits, dark fruit cola, liqueur notes, limestone minerals, some crushed rock powder, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, light vanilla, hints of sage & bay leaf, dark rich forest floor with dry leaves, dark fresh & withering flowers with a touch of bright red florals.
The body is on the fuller and richer side of Pinot. The wine is beautifully elegant across the palate. For a wine not coming from my best storage, this has held up nicely and showing far more complexity and integration than say a year ago. The structure & tension are still firm while the length and balance are approaching its high point. Dark cassis with some currants, some tarriness, hint of savory, smoked meats, black licorice to the core of anise, blackberries, black cherries, pomegranate extract, dry cranberries, some creamy black raspberries, mashed strawberries flesh, plum & blue fruits, raisins, dark fruit cola, liqueur notes, limestone minerals, some crushed rock powder, dark, long lasting spices with some heat, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, light vanilla, hints of sage & bay leaf, dark rich forest floor with dry leaves, dark fresh & withering flowers with a touch of bright red florals. The acidity is quite nice with well balanced fruit & earth finish that is persistent for minutes.
Photos of; Hope & Grace’s Stag’s Leap Vineyard, a very old vine which, I would say is 60 plus years old, Winemaker-Charles Hendricks willing to still do the heavy lifting and one of my favorite paintings that used to be in the Hope & Grace tasting room but, now is in Charles house.
Time for a light red on still a warm night. This one out of 375ml. On the nose, sweet floral mid red fruits of; dark cherries, plum, blackberries & baked strawberries. Fruit liqueur notes, cola, vanilla, black licorice anise and fresh dark florals. The M body is clean & fresh. The palate fruits are; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, strawberries and dry cranberries. Soft, light spices, rose petals, vanilla, cola, hint of black licorice anise, touch of Christmas cake, dry top soil, crushed dry rock, limestone, really nice round acidity and a well polished rich finish with notes of liqueur. It's in a good spot out of 375 with several years ahead of good drinking. Photos of the Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville. The top photo is one of my favorite art pieces. The caption reads, "Time is a great teacher, unfortunately it kills all it's pupils." Their tasting bar, the exterior of their tasting room and another favorite painting behind the bar in their event tasting room. Charles Hendricks (Winemaker) has taken it to his house. However, he is being pestered to bring it back. It's perfect behind the bar in the event tasting room.
Time for a light red on still a warm night. This one out of 375ml. On the nose, sweet floral mid red fruits of; dark cherries, plum, blackberries & baked strawberries. Fruit liqueur notes, cola, vanilla, black licorice anise and fresh dark florals. The M body is clean & fresh. The palate fruits are; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, strawberries and dry cranberries. Soft, light spices, rose petals, vanilla, cola, hint of black licorice anise, touch of Christmas cake, dry top soil, crushed dry rock, limestone, really nice round acidity and a well polished rich finish with notes of liqueur. It's in a good spot out of 375 with several years ahead of good drinking. Photos of the Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville. The top photo is one of my favorite art pieces. The caption reads, "Time is a great teacher, unfortunately it kills all it's pupils." Their tasting bar, the exterior of their tasting room and another favorite painting behind the bar in their event tasting room. Charles Hendricks (Winemaker) has taken it to his house. However, he is being pestered to bring it back. It's perfect behind the bar in the event tasting room.
1 person found it helpfulSep 2nd, 2017If you haven't had Hope & Grace Pinot's, they are definitely worth acquiring. Nicely resolved dark & light red fruits, soft powdery chalkiness, elegant minerality and perfect acidity. Delicious!
If you haven't had Hope & Grace Pinot's, they are definitely worth acquiring. Nicely resolved dark & light red fruits, soft powdery chalkiness, elegant minerality and perfect acidity. Delicious!
1 person found it helpfulNov 13th, 2016Dark & light cherries, black raspberries, strawberry liqueur, dry pomegranate & cranberries, edgy/bitty minerals that soften some as it opens up, good presence of gritty chalk, strong wilted red roses, baking spices and a touch of saw dust. Finishes round and juicy. Even out of 375ml it needs 2-3 more years.
Dark & light cherries, black raspberries, strawberry liqueur, dry pomegranate & cranberries, edgy/bitty minerals that soften some as it opens up, good presence of gritty chalk, strong wilted red roses, baking spices and a touch of saw dust. Finishes round and juicy. Even out of 375ml it needs 2-3 more years.
1 person found it helpfulSep 2nd, 2016Nice, bright, ripe; cherries, strawberries, pomegranate. Soft dark earthiness, touch of chalky and amazing pink floral component. Beautiful long elegant finish.
Nice, bright, ripe; cherries, strawberries, pomegranate. Soft dark earthiness, touch of chalky and amazing pink floral component. Beautiful long elegant finish.
Feb 6th, 2016Boy is this wine tight. Drinking from a 375. Saved most of it for day 2 and the fruit is just starting to show. Black cherry on the nose and lots of anise at the back end of the palate. Tannins that tickle, too.
Boy is this wine tight. Drinking from a 375. Saved most of it for day 2 and the fruit is just starting to show. Black cherry on the nose and lots of anise at the back end of the palate. Tannins that tickle, too.
Oct 14th, 2015
#pinotnoir #santaluciahighlands
Slightly rustic and meaty in style, good mouthfeel with a medium body.
#pinotnoir #santaluciahighlands
Slightly rustic and meaty in style, good mouthfeel with a medium body.
It's the Santa Lucia. Black cherries, raspberries, cherries, light smoke, grilled meat, chalk, red and pink flowers. Long even finish.
It's the Santa Lucia. Black cherries, raspberries, cherries, light smoke, grilled meat, chalk, red and pink flowers. Long even finish.
Jul 19th, 2015My first time with the 2012 vintage. Loads of cherries and that medium body, but not as much herbs and spice I'm used to. Maybe it's still too young. Looking forward to how this tastes tomorrow!
My first time with the 2012 vintage. Loads of cherries and that medium body, but not as much herbs and spice I'm used to. Maybe it's still too young. Looking forward to how this tastes tomorrow!
Mar 29th, 2015