Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Merry Christmas 2025! 🎅🎄🎁 🍷 ❄️ ⛄️

As I have said, Charles Hendricks is my favorite new world winemaker for Malbec. This 12 is perfect with chocolate truffles.

Many would not get this blind. They would call Napa Cabernet or Napa Bordeaux blend.

It is around its precipice. Ripe, juicy, lush fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, strawberries, blueberries, mocha powder, dark chocolate to chocolate mousse, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, dry top soil, moist to dry clays, tumbleweed, some light dry herbs, chard barrel shavings, dark spices, black tea, black licorice, dark cola, dry, crushed limestone/rocks, leather, dry tobacco, dark, withering flowers, liquid violets-lavender, grand, round, acidity, well; balanced, structured, tensioned with a polished/elegant finish that lasts minutes and long sets on spice & dry earthiness. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Charles Hendricks last vintage at James Cole and it didn’t disappoint.

Round velvety M+ soft tannins. Dark currants, dark chocolate, baking spices & excellent mid intensity dark spice.

@SevenCaynonsSedona — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I have said many times that when Charles Hendricks made James Cole from 2013 backwards, amazing.

Charles is the most under known & therefore unappreciated Napa Winemaker on the planet from my perspective.

So, when a bunch of his JC vintages appeared on the secondary market, I bought them all. They are very rare these days.

2013 an excellent vintage, small berries with excellent concentration. When I picked up the cork from the table at the restaurant, it was turned away from me. When I looked at my hand, it was heavily painted with tannins. In a way I have seldom experienced. It was so, I could have easily painted my war face. — 5 months ago

AEL

9.2

Granular, heavy but flavors well defined. Paul brought for Xmas. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Just doesn’t disappoint in any Hendricks vintage.

Last day of California Indian Summer.

@Chaminade — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I’m a bit early opening this but have three and was curious. It will be a while before opening another.

After a double decant, it started to blossom after four hours decanted. Smooth and elegant with just the right kind of spice and soft earths on the long, elegant finish.

Better things in another 5 yrs and beyond.

Enjoyed the 2011 James Cole Malbec afterwards more. Charles Hendricks still crafts my favorite new world Malbecs. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is a non vintage blend and where the Hendricks fruit goes when Charles doesn’t deem it perfect for his private label Hendricks. This is what I miss from the new winemaker at James Cole, it is very elegant.

The palate is round, lush, ruby, creamy fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries, blue fruit hues. Dark and milk chocolate-more dark, caramel, black and some red licorice/cola, herbaceous notes, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather, sandalwood, barrel powder, soft Indian spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark, rich soil, a fresh dark and mid red floral bouquet, excellent round acidity with a well structured, knitted, very well balanced and polish for days. Lasts two minutes plus. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I have posted on a number of occasions that Charles Hendricks is the most underrated Napa Winemaker. It happens in every world region. He made Regusci’s wines through 2013. The relationship ended midway through the 2014 vintage. Patriarch & Angelo’s are their best cuvées when he made them. 2013 an amazing vintage.

I scour the secondary markets for his James Cole and Regusci vintages. Recently, there were many and I bought them all. They are harder and harder to find. Becoming very rare.

This 2013 in fine shape. The cork perfect as is the state of the wine.

Charles’s magic is he makes wines that are elegant young and will age effortlessly & get better.

This 2013 is still in its ascending phrase and will drink well for another 5-10 yrs.

The entry is lush-juicy-ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum, poached-baked strawberries w/ hues of raspberries-blueberries-pomegranate. Dark chocolate to cake, mocha powder, caramel, mid berry cola, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg-cinnamon-vanillin, dark, mid tensioned spices, dry twig, limestone powder, dry stone, grilled meats, moist volcanic clays, mostly sandalwood to soft cedar notes, dry tobacco, old leather, hues of graphite, dark rich earth topped with dry earth & leaves, notes of mint-eucalyptus, dry to withering dark, red, blue flowers framed in fading red roses, excellent acidity with a finish that shows firmness, balance, beautiful structure-tension with elegance, lasts minutes and falls on spice & earthiness on the long set.

This will work its way towards 96-97 in the next few yrs. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

This wine is in a perfect place. 2008 is not as regarded as 2007, but this 2008 made by Charles Hendricks is saying differently & absolutely one of his very best. I would say, James & Coleen made a mistake in letting him get away.

It is sort of a Mother Mary of God wine. Not to be religious, just the phrase fits.

Our eyes & ears perk up when we hear Napa names like; Harlan, Scarecrow, Hundred Acre, Bond & Colgin. I’d like to put this in blind and watch the shock & awe in everyone eyes when the wines were revealed.

The palate entry is perfect in every way. It is rich, lush, extremely balanced with well rounded, velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries, baked strawberries framed in raspberry edges. Some of the most amazing, dark spices with palate heat, melted, dark chocolate to pudding, black licorice to anise, mocha, malt balls, caramel, mid baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, fresh & used tobacco, leathery, graphite, crushed rocks & limestone, sage brush, slightly, candied, dark & withering flowers set in understated violet’s & lavender, warm, summer, rainfall acidity, balance for days, excellent structure/tension with elegance and smart polish that lasts minutes and settles on beautiful spices.

This wine is at its precipice and will hold a few more years with good drinking for 8-10 years. — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

@Delectable this is the Tres Noir.

2019 was their first vintage for the bottling. The softest in the tasting. It however had some very dry medium to medium plus tannins. The fruits is quite nice. Floral; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, stewy plums, dark chocolate, mocha powder, dry clay & top soil, crushed rocks, dry tobacco, leathery, big, dark spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dry herbs, tree bark, sandalwood, light salted caramel notes, bright candied, dark, red, purple florals, nice round acidity with a well balanced, structured finish that is sound wire to wire. Not the wines that Charles made but the Tres Noir is pretty good.

— 3 years ago