Community Tasting Notes 5

• Somm David T Likes this wine: 94 points

  January 11, 2019 - Amongst all the big name Napa producers and cult Cabernets, this small production under the radar producer impresses me and blind will stand in there with many of Napa’s best.
  
  James Cole until 2014 was made by Charles Hendricks. Truly, one of my favorite Napa Winemakers. He has the gift of making wines that drink really well young, yet will improve over 10-20 years. His apprentice has taken over now. I cannot endorse the vintages after 14. I have had a few of his wines and they lack the beauty & elegance Charles could bring to them in their youth. You can still find Charles’s beauty & elegance in the Hope & Grace wines and his own label Hendricks.
  
  The nose reveals; a mix of dark currants & cassis, ripe, blackberries, black cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, well extracted blackberries, strawberries on the glass edges, dark chocolate, mocha powder, limestone minerals, dark mixed berry cola, whiff of smoldering ambers, fruit liqueur notes, anise, leather, cedar, lead pencil, underbrush, old tobacco, notes of soy & Worcester sauce, hint of mint, vanilla, dark spice and withering dark floral bouquet.
  
  The body is medium full and rich. The structure, tension, length and balance are hitting its stride. The tannins are round, dark and a little chewy. Dark currants & cassis, ripe, blackberries, black cherries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, well extracted blackberries, floral strawberries, edges, dark chocolate, mocha bar, limestone minerals, dark mixed berry cola, smoldering ambers, fruit liqueur notes, anise, leather, cedar, lead pencil, sweet tarriness, underbrush, old tobacco, notes of soy & Worcester sauce, hint of mint, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry clay, loamy dry top soil, dry crushed rocks, bright red florals, lavender, violets and withering dark floral bouquet. The acidity is like a rain shower. The long finish tangos on the palate with bright ripe fruits & earthiness and is persistent for minutes.
  
  Still has 10 years of life ahead of it.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• stevegpg Likes this wine: 89 points

  February 2, 2018 - Not sure how I feel about this one. Seemed very tight out of the bottle(aerated), but nice lingering flavors. Definitely spice/pepper from the Cab Franc. Didn’t open much over an hour, but I got some hints of chocolate and earthiness eventually. Maybe needs a bit more time. Will try next bottle in a year.

  Comment

• alsatl wrote: 93 points

  October 22, 2017 - Long decant. Very good for my tastes. Minimal fruit and heavy on the mineral/graphite/pencil lead notes. Much better than the last time I tried it, so it was worth waiting. Drink now with a good decant or wait a couple years. Great now though. Hopefully the next vintages are this good.

  Comment

• alsatl Likes this wine: 90 points

  September 27, 2015 - This wine was a little tight and tart at first, but it opened up nicely after 3 hours in the decanter. It probably needs another year or two before I try again, but I could see it rising to 91-92.

  Comment

• ewasowicz wrote: 84 points

  November 29, 2014 - I think this one needs to sit for a few more years.
  Kind of a flat raisin taste with a non inspiring nose.

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Wine Definition

• Vintage 2011
• Type Red
• Producer James Cole
• Varietal Red Blend
• Designation Privado
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Napa Valley
• Appellation Napa Valley

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 47 (43%)
• Consumed 63 (57%)

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