Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I drank a fair amount of Regusci back in the day, but that was when Charles Hendricks was the Winemaker. His last full Regusci vintage, birth to finish was 2013. He did work most of the 2014 growing season, but didn’t vinify it. I guess if you’re going to go out 2013 is a grand vintage to do it. He trained their current Winemaker, but he makes a different style than Charles. Every Winemaker wants to do their own thing. I can’t say blame him/them, but I can decide whether I want to buy & drink them.

When I find older, well preserved Regusci vintages Charles made on the secondary market, I buy them. Not many pop-up anymore.

Owner Jim Regusci inspired the creation of “The 1932.” It is an homage to Regusci's estate vineyards and dedicated to Gaetano Regusci, who acquired the ranch in 1932. They farmed agriculture long before they made wine. First time having this bottling. 2012 is primarily Cabernet with Merlot & a splash of Cabernet Franc.

This is a classic Charles-Regusci creation. Notes after a 45 minute decant. It’s a strong 93 that pushes 94.

The nose is dark & brooding. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, dark cherries, some blueberries with raspberries on the edge of the glass. Steamy oak to cedar, dry tobacco, used leather, dark tarriness, anise that rounds out into licorice, black tea, dark spices, some dry herbs-light sage & bay leaf, dry crushed gravel w/ limestone, clove oil, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, baking soda, melted, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, black turned earth w/ leaves, dark, red flowers framed in violets & lavender.

Ripe but with a dry-ish feel; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, dark cherries that has a liqueur feel to them, ripe, juicy strawberries as it opens up further, some blueberries with raspberries hovering over the top. Shaved oak to cedar, dry tobacco, used leather, dark tarriness, anise that rounds out into licorice, black tea, dark spices with some palate heat, some dry herbs-light sage & bay leaf, dry crushed gravel w/ limestone, dry stone with dust, charcoal notes, clove oil, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, baking soda, melted, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, black, turned earth w/ leaves, dark, red flowers framed in violets & lavender. A slight burn of alcohol on the center tongue, not the back of the throat, which is a bit odd, dark & red slightly withering but candied flowers framed in prominent lavender & violets, full round acidity with a well; tensioned, structured, balanced, elegant finish that lands squarely on evolved earth, dark spice and lasts minutes.

This is still ascending and will reach its peak in three to five years. It will slowly descend over the next 5-8 years.

Photos of; their tasting room/bar, fantastic picnic area, for sale vegetable/fruit cart and a long shot of their estate vineyard & winery. — a month ago

Shawn Thompson

9.1

Made the midsummer spritz as part of our summer solstice celebration last night. This rendition of Hendricks gin is lighter, crisp and deeply floral. The cocktail is made up of 50ml Hendricks midsummer gin, 50ml sparkling wine, 150 ml elderflower tonic garnished with cucumber and orange slice. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

Mother Mary of God! Near Pomerol like. Charles Hendricks masterpiece. Menthol & a touch of mint.

Stunning vintage & wine.

This 07 is in perfect shape…at its peak. Still has 7 plus years of life.

Black raspberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, purple fruits, dark chocolate/pudding, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, softened, cinnamon stick, vanilla, dark, rich soils, moist, limestone mush, black tea, black licorice, bay leaf, salted caramel, dryish twig, menthol, mint, volcanic ash, sandalwood, dark withering to candied, red, blue florals, lavender framed in violets with perfect acidity and a amazingly, structured, well knitted/tensioned and elegantly polished finish that lasts minutes falling squarely on earthy minerality.

Second wine with an Allen Brother’s Ribcap recently bought on the secondary market for $55.

Photos of; James Cole on Silverado Trail, brass statue that is their bottle logo & their private tasting room. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Charles Hendricks last vintage at Regusci. 2013 a phenomenal vintage and this is in top form. Showing amazing fruit with his Regusci spice.

Charles Hendricks may be the most under appreciated Winemaker in Napa Valley.

What a well balanced, structured, mix of fruit, soft earthiness, spice and bright florals. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

It’s good to follow Winemakers. I follow Charles Hendricks. However, Charles last James Cole vintage was 2013.

100% Petit Verdot in anyone’s hands is tricky. This 09 made by Charles is elegant young...just as it is now. It’s just rounder & softer after 9 1/2 years in bottle. It still has teeth but, complex & floral with dark, grippy tarry, round tannins. The darkest of roasted & used expresso grounds, dry earth with dark & brilliant florals. Beautiful acidity and elegant persistent finish.

This offering has another 10-15 of good drinking ahead. Properly stored of course.

Photos of; James Cole Winery, outside tasting lounge, signature bronze logo statute and James’ classic car in their fermentation cellar. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

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. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

HBTM! 🥳 🎉🎂 🎈

Charles Hendricks one of the most underrated Winemakers in the Napa/Sonoma/Santa Lucia areas. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Charles Hendricks last vintage at Regusci and what a vintage 2013 was in Napa. If you’re are going to go out on a high note, 13 would be it. The most underrated Winemaker in Napa Valley.

Dark, ruby, lush, currents, raspberries, plum skin, strawberries, dark chocolate, lots of salted caramel notes, mid spice, tarriness, black licorice, soft dark earth with dry top soil, dry tobacco, used leather, vanillin, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, withering dark floral, lavender framed in violets, excellent acidity and great structure, tension, balance and perfectly polished for days. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is a very rounded, elegant and nicely polished Malbec. As you know, many Malbecs can be rugged and rough on the palate. Not the case here. This is the second Winemaker that I’ve had other than Charles Hendricks that knows how to make an elegant, soft and well rounded, brilliantly floral Malbec. Wire to wire this wine is beautiful, balanced with polish for days. River like acidity. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Some friends of ours brought this to our backyard dinner last night. This is not a producer I buy. So, it was nice to revisit and nice of them to share.

The first thing I would say, is this is a well made Pinot Noir. Having said that, I don’t buy it due to its pricing. If you are buying this from the winery, its price point is still too high for it’s quality and gets worse yet when you go to the secondary markets which, many do, due to its limited production & wait on their list.

I say this because I have had countless examples of Sonoma & CA Pinot Noirs that are as good for $75 or around that price point give or take a little. The Hendricks Pinot from Santa Lucia is a similar style and for me, is better than this Marcassin. The Hendricks is $75 on futures buying.

Our friends that brought it, whom we share a mutual friendship with another Sommelier. He told them they had to drink this as it was getting old. I can tell you that is simply not the case. This wine has another 7-10 years of fine drinking ahead. These statements happen when your consuming wine regiment is based on a steady stream of always drinking wines young...It just happens.

The wine shows beautiful mid & dark candied, floral fruits, heavy baking spices and too much cinnamon stick for me. Beautiful, dark, red, blue and purple florals. It is well balanced, lush, elegant, polished with nice round acidity.

A very nice wine just overpriced IMHO. You can do just as well for less and you would only lose out on the fact you are feeling good about opening a cult name Pinot for yourself or to impress others. Not a dig, just the wine psychology that experience has led me to through the devotion of studying wine and consumers feedback. Not all, but enough to call it what it is. I myself have fallen prey to those emotions & I’m sure will again.

Photo of, Marciassin Winery, Helen Turley-Co Owner, Ryan O'Donnell-Winemaker and a Sonoma vineyard they source fruit. — 5 years ago