Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

My wife Sofia brought this on a birthday weekend in Napa for me. We hoped it would be something close to their 03 Premiere Napa Valley bottling I bought 8-10 bottles. @Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7 bought the rest and I sold one to @Shay A. They were amazing.

This needs more time in the cellar to be more like the 03 PNV, but it is a ripe, ruby, lush Napa Cabernet. Right now, this is very classic Napa Cabernet. Better things are ahead in another 7-10 yrs.

The nose shows; brambly dark cassis, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum to pudding, black cherries, poached to baked strawberries & a frame of raspberries, mid berry cola, black licorice, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon powder to stick, vanillin, moist, grey volcanic clay, dark, rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, dry twig, dark chocolate bar, herbaceous notes, some graphite, soft leather/fresh tobacco, dry crushed rocks, fresh to slightly candied; dark, red flowers w/ violets.

The palate is a bit of Cabernet candy. It is, ruby, rich & lush. brambly, dark core of cassis, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries, poached to baked strawberries & a frame of raspberries, mid berry cola, black licorice, sweet tarriness, dark spices w/ heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon powder to stick, vanillin, moist, grey volcanic clay, dark, rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, dry twig, graphite, charcoal, dark chocolate to pudding, herbaceous notes, some graphite, soft leather/fresh tobacco, dry top soils/crushed rocks, fresh to slightly candied; dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender, grand, rainfall acidity, balance for days, well knitted-structured-woven, elegant finish that goes on for minutes and long sets on clays, spice and dry twigs.

Add a point or two in 5-8 yrs. — 2 months ago

Eoin Danaher

9.0

Stephens day tipple... Beautiful — 6 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

Bottle 59 of 60.
This one didn’t have the stuffing my last ones had. Slight sour taste on the finish — 6 years ago

Andreas Isler

9.4

Stephens Golf happening @Pinehurst
Magnum — 7 years ago

Emily Colonna

10

Drink chilled. Had a lovely glass in Newcastle at the vineyard and a bottle with Tessa back home — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

HUNNICUTT is a family owned and operated winery founded in 2002 by Justin Stephens. The name ‘HUNNICUTT’ was Justin's great grandmother’s maiden name, is Justin's middle name and the middle name of their daughter Parker Hunnicutt Stephens. Some Somona fruit added, stone fruit aromas with citrus notes. On the palate the fruit shows nicely with Asian pears and crisp apples, with plenty of citrus zest. The finish had some generous mineral notes, sweet vanilla spice and nutty oak, which lingered very nicely. — 8 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.0

Merlot monday. Solid 30 dollar wine from napa.

Preparing my wine contribution for saturday's festivities. Showing some friends around livermore wineries so picked out some wines to show the terroir. These are my top 5 livermore wineries. And a couple napa wines for dinner as well.

2001 Kalin Semillon
2001 Kalin Sauv blanc
2016 Nottingham Fraser Howard Chard
2016 Occasio Chard
2015 Murrieta's Well Chard
2015 Murrieta's Well tempranillo
2009 Steven Kent Premier cab

2014 hunnicutt cuvee equite
2014 d.r. Stephens collateral cabernet — 8 years ago

John Chawluk

9.2

Best wine of the week in Vegas. Good fruit, great body. Complex but clean. Thanks sommelier! Delmonico Steakhouse. — 4 months ago

with Scotti

Paul K

9.3

Getting ready for our Hunnicutt tasting Saturday with @Justin Stephens. This is great! — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2017 vintage. This is the Earl Stephens Vineyard. Wasn’t popping up and didn’t merit expert review (tho requested) apparently. — 5 years ago

Joe Buser

9.0

Very good bottle of wine for the $$. — 6 years ago

Pablo Cetlinski

9.0

Apricot, lemon grass, citrus. Medium body spicy finish — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

We visited Hunnicutt based on visit to DR Stephens. Don Stephens (DR Stephens) is the father of Justin Stephens, owner of Hunnicutt. We went to see if the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. After @Jason and Jennie tasted the stunning 14 DR Stephens Collateral with us at a great tasting event they organized, we visited DR Stephens last year. Finally, appointment times aligned for us to visit Hunnicutt this market trip.

Andrew their Hospitality Director was our host. He is a very nice guy and shared a well of knowledge about Hunnicutt with us. We started our tasting with the new release of their 17 Sonoma Chardonnay.

On the nose; bright green apple, lemon, pineapple, some buttered popcorn, limestone minerals, saline, some marzipan, custard, cream, fruit blossoms, spring flowers and yellow lilies.

The body is full, round with very good texture. There’s a waxy character. Green apple, lemon, pineapple, honeysuckle, some buttered popcorn, limestone minerals, saline, some marzipan, custard, cream, fruit blossoms spring flowers and yellow lilies. The acidity is round & beautiful. The well polished finish is; elegant, seamless with some white spice and volcanic minerals on the long set. Nice bottling.

Photos; Top to bottom and left to right; Hunnicutt Winery, Don Stephens (Owner DR Stephens), Justin Stephens (Owner Hunnicutt) and a half & half shot of their patio and inside tasting area. — 7 years ago

Anna Sangiacomo

9.3

Creamy vanilla oak rounds out the flavors of dark berry, cherry & cedar notes. — 8 years ago

Paul K

9.4

Great tasting last night of wines below with @Justin Stephens and @Andrew Bohi over Zoom with a great group of friends including @James K. We missed @Vanessa and @J Greene.
It seemed everyone had a different favorite which speaks well to the quality and consistency from Hunnicutt. My WoTN was the Brinkman.
Dinner at Our Paladar in Rochester, MN. If you’re in the area or visiting, you have to check it out! Food and people are amazing!

2019 Richard Donner Chard
2019 Napa Cab
2019 Eastline Cab
2019 Wayside
2019 FS81
2019 Brinkman Block
2019 935 — 2 years ago

with Justin and James

Paul K

9.4

@Delectable this is the Collateral Red Wine blend not Chard.
Needs lots of time but shows great promise. — 3 years ago

Christopher Waddell

8.9

Good solid oaky red — 6 years ago

Corson Fidler

9.3

Deep, full bodied, had at Mark and Tina’s rehearsal dinner — 7 years ago

with Kelly

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On any other night, this Lewelling would have been more impressive but, it followed the 03 DR Stephens Moose Valley Vineyard PNV and that’s just not a fair race.

If you tasted this blind with other Left Bank Pauillac wines, many would have called it Pauillac.

The nose has dark creme de cassis. It’s big and brooding. Dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, stewed strawberries and heavily extracted blueberries. Kirsch cherries, dark forest floor with leaves, turned black earth, limestone, river stone, dark chocolate, caramel, vanilla, light clove, mocha powder, black tea, anise, crushed dry rocks, underbrush, leather, port notes, herbaceous notes, light mint with fresh bright red and dark withering flowers.

The palate full, brooding and heavy. Years of life ahead. The tannins structure still big but, rounded. The tension still a little monster. The length and balance are developing but, need another 5-8 years plus easily. Dark creme de cassis. It’s big and brooding. Dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, stewed strawberries, plum skin and heavily extracted blueberries. Kirsch cherries, dark forest floor with leaves, dry clay, turned black earth, limestone, river stone, dark chocolate bar, caramel, vanilla, light clove, mocha powder, dark spice with heat, black tea, anise, lead pencil, crushed dry rocks, underbrush, leather, port notes, herbaceous notes, black pepper notes, light mint with fresh bright red and dark withering flowers and bright violets. The acidity is round. The finish is heavy, rich, elegant, well balanced fruit and earth and lasts several minutes.

Photos of; the Lewelling Estate vines, old gnarly vines somewhere around 40 years plus, their own boulevard and old school Victorian. — 7 years ago

Anna Sangiacomo

9.5

Our favorite. beautifully coming together!!! — 8 years ago