Dave

9.4

I'm not a Napa expert, but many of my Delectable buddies are. Have you had this wine? Pulled it last night, and while my palate was overloaded from other wines we tasted, I knew I was into something good. Revisiting it today for a 2nd day taste. Exceptional! The 31% Cab Franc is the star of the show here, adding great structure and depth. The wine is soft but tannic, with prominent flavors of blackberries, currant, tomato, and violets. This could have waited 5 more years. Beautifully constructed wine, and the best I've had in months. I only wish I had another bottle or 14.
Listening to Chet Atkins — 6 months ago

Mark Turner

9.3

Really nice blend. 48% cab sauv, 21% cab franc, 21% Syrah, 10% Malbec. Nose was blueberry, earth, pepper and a hint of vanilla. Smooth mid plate with a medium weight and good balance of fruit and acidity. Oak, blackberry and raspberry with pepper, spice and forest floor that lingered for a long time. Enjoyable. — 5 years ago

William Feinstein

9.4

06 Viader - unfortunately kicked 07 Nickel and Nickel State Ranch - flat. 08 Hundred Acre Fortunate Son - third time’s a charm. Inky dark purple in the glass. Fresh roses on the nose with a hint of cayenne. Definitely a fruit bomb but has tons of depth and character. — 6 years ago

with Maryalice

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On the nose, ripe, ruby, fruits of; mulberry, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, black cherries, blueberries & creamy raspberries. Vanilla, hints of sweet tarriness, black licorice, whiff of spice, soft understated limestone minerals & crushed rock powder, fruity black tea, hint of fresh herbaceousness, rich, black turned earth, fresh dark floral bouquet and fields of lavender & violets.

The body is rich, ripe & full. The tannins are a little sticky but well softened, round and a touch chewy. The structure, tension, length, balance, tension and balance are very close to perfect and harmonious. Fruits are; mulberry, huckleberry, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, black cherries & creamy raspberries. Vanilla, hints of sweet tarriness, black licorice, whiff of spice, soft understated limestone minerals & crushed rock powder, fruity black tea, hint of fresh herbaceousness, rich, black turned earth, fresh dark floral bouquet and fields of lavender & violets. The acidity is round and rains like a waterfall perfectly over the palate. The very long, ruby, rich, well balance lasts minutes and is absolutely heavenly. Gorgeous, elegant, stunning wine.

Photos of; the vertical tasting we attended of all Hendricks Cabernets; 04, 05, 09 & 12 at the time w/ one of our favorite paintings in the background, Charles Hendricks working in the cellar, very old rootstock from the Stag’s Leap Vineyard where the fruit to make this wine normally comes from and a wide shot of the Stag’s Leap Vineyard.

Producer notes and history...Hendricks Cabernet Sauvignon is consistently sourced from a few of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards. In those near perfect vintages, Charles only makes a small production wine of around 250-300 cases. Charles only produces it when he has exception fruit. He’s made Hendricks Cabernet in; 2004, 2005, 2009, 2012 & 2014. Notice he didn’t make Hendricks Cabernet in a great vintage year like 2013. He wasn’t happy enough with his fruit in 2013 to put his name on it. That says a lot and maybe all you need to know about his standard for quality. I do know what wine his 13 fruit made as I’ve had and it’s an unbelievable wine for far less money.

Charles also makes a fantastic Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands that is really quite amazing. Especially, if you give it 5 or 6 years in bottle. All his wines are sold exclusively through the Hope & Grace tasting room in Yountville as he is also the Hope & Grace Winemaker.

Charles graduated in 1982 from UC Davis in viticulture. He was also able to tailor his own curriculum and was one of the earliest to integrate winemaking and viticulture course work. Having knowledge of both viticulture and enology forms the basis for his well-rounded winemaking.

Over the years Charles has worked in both Napa and Sonoma Counties, gaining hands on experience in all aspects of winemaking. He has a strong reputation for excellence. In his career, he’s been a consulting winemaker for many wineries; Viader, Barnett Vineyards, Paoletti Vineyards, Regusci Winery, James Cole, T-Vine and Tamayo family Vineyard.

I asked Charles, “how does he make wines that are amazingly good in their youth but will age effortlessly for 15-20 years?” His answer was simply this, “its not that hard, you just have to know the perfect time to harvest fruit.” I would agree with that to a degree. But, you also have to know how to gently guide fruit onto it’s path into the barrel and not get in the wine’s way or overwork the process. — 8 years ago

laura brewer

9.1

All Malbecs should aspire to this... — 10 years ago

Brian lindke

9.4

One of my all time favorites, never ever disappoints.
The winery, caves and vineyard on Howell mountain are just as amazing! Never pretentious or over done. Pure, and true to the artist expression from the family founders/ owners to the incredible wines! This particular 2016 vintage was at its prime and thoughly enjoyed! — 8 months ago

Brian Lindke

9.4

One of my favorites.
Incredible winery on Howell mnt with outstanding winemaking history and culture.
Don’t miss them on your next trip out. — 5 years ago

Joshua Fisher

9.4

Burgess is gone. Viader is not — 6 years ago

Jeff Petrone

9.7

2011 Vintage Smelling like roses. Tasting like dried plums on a summer day....but it’s winter. Getting a little smoke in there but then again it could be the fire I have going. Wish I had one more bottle... — 7 years ago

Joseph LaPanna

9.4

Only black from edge to edge. Intense aromas of black fruit plum compote, black pepper and vanilla. The ripeness of the fruit brings natural acidy to the party of black and blue fruit. The finish hangs on for an eternity with dried herbs, dusty gravel and molasses. If Darth Viader drinks wine, this would be his favorite! — 8 years ago

Eric

8.9

Second label Viader Cab Franc. Decent, not amazing. — 9 years ago

Eric

9.3

Best Pinot I've ever had. Hard to come back after Viader. — 10 years ago

Eric

8.9

This is a Viader 1999 100% Cabernet Franc! Special bottle and label. See picture. — 10 years ago

L Guerci

9.1

Just brought this 2021 back from the vineyard - it’s nice to see the Malbec featured, beautiful full bodied red blend — 2 years ago

Tom Garland

9.1

This is a 2016 Viader Dare cabernet franc

1.5 hour decant (little cloudy sediment). A majestic dark garnet color. On the nose: subtle notes of raspberry, pepper, anise, chocolate, mint. Taste: 1st time trying...nice cab franc with smooth notes of plum, cedar, pencil lead, smokey dried herbs, and pepper raspberry finish. A nice start to the weekend! — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Eric

9.2

Needed a good 2 hours to open up. — 6 years ago

with S.R.Alexander

Cary Silverman

9.5

Incredible right out of the bottle — 7 years ago

with David

Peggy Hadley

8.9

A little past it's time. — 9 years ago

with Jim

Alan Viader

9.6

second bottle I tasted this week and showing amazing floral, rose aromatics. great structure but refined and restrained, an elegant wine. drinking so great right now. — 10 years ago

Eric

9.5

If you haven't had it, gotta try it. Unique and outstanding. — 10 years ago