James Cole
Napa Valley Malbec
Napa Valley, California, USA
I’ve never had a Charles Hendricks wine I didn’t like. Especially, his Malbecs. This is not nearly as good as his 07 Hope & Grace Malbec but, none the less still very good.
The fruits on the nose reveal the ripeness & freshness of the 12 Napa vintage. Loads of blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries but, it’s the boysenberries, mulberries & blue fruits & raspberries on the glass edges that really make for a great nose. Black licorice, dark fruit cola with shades of liqueur, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, limestone & sandstone, big tobacco, dark spice, leather, oak barrel shavings, dry top soil, dry crushed rocks, stones, rich black earth, sweet tarriness with brilliant; dark, red, blue & purple florals framed in lavender & violets.
The body is just full. The 12 vintage was always more fruit than tannins, not that there were no tannins or structure in this 12 & other 12’s. Ripe, lush & slightly ruby; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries but, really love the boysenberries, mulberries & blue fruits in my reds. Black licorice, dark fruit cola with shades of liqueur, black pepper, limestone & sandstone, forest floor, dry stems, big tobacco, dark spice with just a touch of heat, clove, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, leather, graphite, steeped fruit tea, oak barrel shavings, dry top soil, dry crushed rocks, stones, volcanics, rich black earth, sweet tarriness with dark, lush; red, blue & purple florals framed in lavender & violets. The acidity is nice & round. The finish is well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and persists nicely with just the right amount of dark spice on the long set.
This would have a little scored higher but, I coravined it a few weeks back and restored it laying down. Seems to have lost a bit from opening.
Photos of; James Cole Winery on the Silverado Trail, former James Cole Winemaker - Charles Hendricks (13 his full last vintage), tasting bar & tasting patio.
I’ve never had a Charles Hendricks wine I didn’t like. Especially, his Malbecs. This is not nearly as good as his 07 Hope & Grace Malbec but, none the less still very good.
The fruits on the nose reveal the ripeness & freshness of the 12 Napa vintage. Loads of blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries but, it’s the boysenberries, mulberries & blue fruits & raspberries on the glass edges that really make for a great nose. Black licorice, dark fruit cola with shades of liqueur, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, limestone & sandstone, big tobacco, dark spice, leather, oak barrel shavings, dry top soil, dry crushed rocks, stones, rich black earth, sweet tarriness with brilliant; dark, red, blue & purple florals framed in lavender & violets.
The body is just full. The 12 vintage was always more fruit than tannins, not that there were no tannins or structure in this 12 & other 12’s. Ripe, lush & slightly ruby; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries but, really love the boysenberries, mulberries & blue fruits in my reds. Black licorice, dark fruit cola with shades of liqueur, black pepper, limestone & sandstone, forest floor, dry stems, big tobacco, dark spice with just a touch of heat, clove, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, leather, graphite, steeped fruit tea, oak barrel shavings, dry top soil, dry crushed rocks, stones, volcanics, rich black earth, sweet tarriness with dark, lush; red, blue & purple florals framed in lavender & violets. The acidity is nice & round. The finish is well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and persists nicely with just the right amount of dark spice on the long set.
This would have a little scored higher but, I coravined it a few weeks back and restored it laying down. Seems to have lost a bit from opening.
Photos of; James Cole Winery on the Silverado Trail, former James Cole Winemaker - Charles Hendricks (13 his full last vintage), tasting bar & tasting patio.
On the nose; sweet dark currants, dark plums, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, vanilla, touch sweet tar, anise and fresh & decayed violets. The mouthfeel is fresh, rich, elegant and meatier than Charles made 14 & prior. Nice dark currents, creamy; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries & black plum. Dry powdery tannins, crushed dry rock powder, vanilla, some leather, underbrush, crushed volcanic minerals, violets, lavender, nice acidity and rich, round polished finish.
On the nose; sweet dark currants, dark plums, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, vanilla, touch sweet tar, anise and fresh & decayed violets. The mouthfeel is fresh, rich, elegant and meatier than Charles made 14 & prior. Nice dark currents, creamy; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries & black plum. Dry powdery tannins, crushed dry rock powder, vanilla, some leather, underbrush, crushed volcanic minerals, violets, lavender, nice acidity and rich, round polished finish.
Sep 9th, 2017
With rain clouds approaching and an autumn chill in the air, it was time to roast beef and dig out something delicious from my collection. I was curious to see how a Malbec would age and am happy to report that this one did very well. Big lush fruit with sweet tannins providing elegant structure and a long finish.
With rain clouds approaching and an autumn chill in the air, it was time to roast beef and dig out something delicious from my collection. I was curious to see how a Malbec would age and am happy to report that this one did very well. Big lush fruit with sweet tannins providing elegant structure and a long finish.
Oct 14th, 2016I am not the biggest fan of most Malbec's. The Mendoza's just aren't all that interesting. There generally quite simple and lack beauty & elegance! However, Chuck Hendrick's Malbec's impress. He makes the Hope & Grace and did until recently make the James Cole. You will be hard press to find another as elegant, smooth and fruit so ripe. One could sip this all night. Ripe black cherries, raspberries, cherries, touch of blue fruit, liquid violets, melted milk chocolate, the dark minerality is round & sweet, there's a faint presence of used wood shavings, touch of lite pepper on the tip of your tongue and a round mix of rich ripe fruit blend on the finish. Acidity is spot on! This will only continue to improve over the next 4-5 years +.
I am not the biggest fan of most Malbec's. The Mendoza's just aren't all that interesting. There generally quite simple and lack beauty & elegance! However, Chuck Hendrick's Malbec's impress. He makes the Hope & Grace and did until recently make the James Cole. You will be hard press to find another as elegant, smooth and fruit so ripe. One could sip this all night. Ripe black cherries, raspberries, cherries, touch of blue fruit, liquid violets, melted milk chocolate, the dark minerality is round & sweet, there's a faint presence of used wood shavings, touch of lite pepper on the tip of your tongue and a round mix of rich ripe fruit blend on the finish. Acidity is spot on! This will only continue to improve over the next 4-5 years +.
Sep 5th, 2016Milk chocolate, red roses and violets. So lush and ruby soft juicy blackberries, raspberries that finishes into cherries and strawberries. Big rich finish. Chuck's Malbec's are the best I've had.
Milk chocolate, red roses and violets. So lush and ruby soft juicy blackberries, raspberries that finishes into cherries and strawberries. Big rich finish. Chuck's Malbec's are the best I've had.
May 8th, 2016Plum, sweet red cherries, chalky.
Plum, sweet red cherries, chalky.
Oct 10th, 2015Dark and blue fruits, expresso roast, black tea, light wood, minerals and long lush finish. Chuck might make the best Malbec's in the Valley.
Dark and blue fruits, expresso roast, black tea, light wood, minerals and long lush finish. Chuck might make the best Malbec's in the Valley.
Jul 24th, 2015
Well its a Malbec,,,,,,, if you like Malbec then maybe its up your alley, if you don’t like Malbec then🤷🏼♂️,
Well its a Malbec,,,,,,, if you like Malbec then maybe its up your alley, if you don’t like Malbec then🤷🏼♂️,
Sep 1st, 2019