3/19/2024 - FGS wrote:

Winery Tasting Notes: A blanket of creamy dark chocolate plum saturates the plate. This is a balanced beauty: poignant and deliciously delivering a curvaceous texture. Boysenberry, dusted violets, and oak spark on the finish with an echo of white pepper. Embodies an old world meets new world style. The Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon is handcrafted entirely from Rutherford, sourcing from a single block off of the property. Exhibiting rich characteristics of dark complex fruits, minerality and balanced intensity, the layers of this wine truly reflect this unique vineyard's terroir.

2/4/2024 - FGS Likes this wine:

Black cherry, baking spice and blueberries abound on this wonderfully balanced Alexander Valley Cabernet. Entering its drinking window and should drink well for a decade, or more.

8/12/2023 - FGS Likes this wine:

Black raspberry fruits, violets, shaved cocoa with polished, sweet tannins almost opaque in color with aromas of truffle, black cherry, and licorice. Great mouthfeel across mid palate. Should drink well for 3-5 years or more.

6/27/2021 - FGS Likes this wine:

Our last bottle, and it was a beauty. Soft, round, great fruit and perfectly aged. I still firmly believe that Hawkes wines are to be aged 10 years, if not longer.

5/14/2021 - FGS Likes this wine:

Don't remember this wine being so good when we drank the first bottle a couple of years ago. Great nose of dark fruit and chocolate. Plush mouth-feel. We have some of the 2017's but haven't tried any yet. If they are this good at this age, will for sure wait a couple more years.

11/15/2020 - FGS Likes this wine:

Hitting its stride 7 years out. Smooth and balanced, with deep dark fruit. Drinking well, but will continue to age well.

10/2/2020 - FGS Likes this wine:

Fifteen years out, and drinking better than ever. Smooth, velvety tannins, lush fruit, and round balanced mouth-feel. Wish I had another case, but enjoyed every bottle that we opened out of the one we had.

3/25/2020 - FGS Likes this wine:

Absolutely stunning at 10 years old. Smooth and delicious, hitting dark fruit and savory notes, with hints of roasted meat. Drink now and enjoy!

9/17/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Plums, anise, coffee and a touch of chocolate round out this stellar wine. Surprised by the bright fruit and freshness of this vintage. Just enough tannic backbone to hold it all together. Drinks well at release, but hold for 10 years and you won’t be sorry.

8/30/2019 - FGS wrote:

While not a style of wine I typically enjoy, I do understand its appeal. Surprised, actually, by the 94 rating given by RP. Seems a bit over-extracted to me. Fruit-bomb; but again understand that appeal. It's just not for me. At this price point, or lower, have found wines I enjoy more.

8/25/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Developing nicely. Good notes of vanilla and oak, fruit and mocha.

8/24/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Much improved over the last bottle (drank 1/2018). Deeper notes of mocha and dark fruit. Needs a good decant to really show its stuff.

7/26/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Better after a few hours. Initially dark fruit, wanna say plum? Tannins are soft, but has some grip. Good acidity and balance. Pyramid tends to be better as it gets some bottle age, but at six years it’s coming along. Higher elevation Cabernet, so denser, more concentrated fruit.

7/2/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Crisp fruit, nice nose and firm tannins. Benefits from a longer decant. Best after 2 hours.

6/27/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Liked this bottle better than the previous two. Showed a bit more balance, and better flavor profile. Maybe better in a few years. However, there are better wines out there at this price point, so probably won’t buy again

6/26/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Blackberries, black cherry, cassis and some floral notes. Fresh and lively, this is drinking well early, and should age well for 10 years, or more. I have found that a number of 2015 Cabs are showing well right out of the box, and will be hard pressed to keep them around long.

6/7/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Just amazing. So smooth, and the fruit so pitch-perfect. Some licorice and savory notes. Our last bottle of this vintage for the RW vineyard, and it drank beautifully.

5/26/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Absolutely gorgeous after a 2hr decant. Very fruit forward, but with great secondary notes of granite and mocha. Drink or hold; either way you really can’t go wrong.

5/26/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Did not do this bottle justice (minimal decant). Beautiful fruit and floral notes, but would imagine this needs a few more years, and some decent time in a decanter to truly be appreciated.

5/26/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Exceptional. Smooth and polished. Truly showing how Jake Hawkes give attention to the fruit and balance, and his eye on crafting wine that will cellar well, and evolve.

5/26/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Reminiscent of Silver Oak vintages of years gone by. Not a surprise given the winemakers background. Vanilla, oak and blueberry on the nose, with dark fruit throughout. Smooth finish. Love this wine at this price point, and it is one that will probably drink best within the next 2 to 3 years.

5/16/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Very Silver Oak-ish in style. Maybe a throwback to the SO of yesteryear. Tons of oak and vanilla and blueberry give way to cherries, spice and blackberries on the palate. Drinks well now, and should age for 3-5 years, but may be better younger.

5/4/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Improving, and I think will be at it's best 2020-2025. Drank after a 2007 Spottswoode and 2012 N&N Hayne (100pts/94pts respectively) and stood tall in that company, with guests sipping, then nodding in appreciation. Or maybe we were just all drunk by then...either way, it drank well and impressed along side some heavy hitters.

5/4/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Still great, but has definitely evolved since the last bottle 8 months ago. The deep chocolate/mocha notes are more subdued at this stage, but great fruit, and smooth throughout.

5/4/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Very smooth and polished at this stage. Round, supple tannins. Cherry, vanilla, herb and spice. First experience with Spottswoode, and can see why it scored 100.

4/30/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Received this as a gift, and what a great gift it was. I would have easily mistaken the nose for a Silver Oak, and it has the same vanilla, Oak and berry notes on the nose, with lush blackberry palate. Was just blown away by the similarities. We missed the 2013 vintage of this wine, but look forward to trying the ‘14 Small Block Reserve in a few years.

4/29/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Really enjoyed this time around, and solidly in its drinking window. Will age well for some years, but may lose a bit of the mineral/earth edge that really powers this wine. Roasted meat, licorice, plum and dark berries carry this through. Drink now if you still have some.

4/11/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Drinking well, and may be at its peak. Tannins are there, but take a back seat to the fruit. Smooth and delicious, it’s truly expressive of what Cabernet is meant to be. Will enjoy our last three bottles over the next year.

4/6/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

This wine is shaping up nicely. In the three years since its release, the tannins have softened, and the fruit has really started to shine. Solidly in the drinking window, yet can imagine it cellaring well for many years to come. If you like the ‘12 Hawkes, try the 2013’s, as well. 👍

3/31/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Very good, and glad we drank it when we did. Mocha, dark fruit and some savory notes on the nose. More black fruit with smooth tannins across the palate. Big hit with everyone at dinner.

3/29/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

A little musty on opening, but once it got some air, notes of oak and vanilla and red fruit. Drank well for a 24yr old wine, but has probably seen better days. Imagine that the enjoyability of this wine will be very bottle to bottle, and very dependent on how it has been stored. Would recommend using a Coravin to sample a bit before pulling that cork.

3/29/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Balanced and smooth, it's definitely ready to drink. Dark fruits of cassis, blackberry and black cherry, nice mouthfeel and soft tannins.

3/25/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

A great effort from a tough vintage, and really drinking well at this stage. Bright cherry notes and some spice, hints of mocha and tobacco. Smooth and structured, with great balance and acidity. If you had the patience to age this wine, you will be rewarded.

3/24/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Drinking wonderfully now. After 90 minutes in the decanter, beautiful nose of dark cherry, mocha and graphite give way to soft tannins supple mouth feel and smooth finish. As with all (most?) Hawkes wine, this will probably age well over the next several years, but drinking beautifully now.

3/23/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Very nice, and approachable at this stage. Smooth and inviting, with dark fruit and oak notes. Should age well. I am a big fan of the 2012 N&N Hayne Vineyard, and while the ‘13 is good, I think the ‘12 was much better.

3/3/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Good, but should have waited a few more years. Try 2021.

2/22/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Very nice right now, and should drink well for many years. Love (LOVE!) the nose, as it hits with spice box, floral notes, cherries and earth. Very complex and intriguing. Palate is smooth, with the familiar Red Winery flavors present, as in past vintages. I find myself occelating between favorite single vineyards from Hawkes, but have never been disappointed by a wine from this vineyard.

2/22/2019 - FGS Likes this wine:

Great flavors of blackberry, cherry and chocolate. Good balance. Tannins resolved for the most part. Clean fruit and smooth finish. Drinking well, and should cellar well, but clearly in its window.

12/20/2018 - FGS Likes this wine:

Enjoyed a bit more than 6 months ago. Seems to be a bit fruit forward, but not overpowering. Licorice and dark fruits on the nose, and agree with the note on the acidity. May soften a bit with a year in the cellar, but enjoyable now. At $35, not bad QPR.

12/14/2018 - FGS Likes this wine:

Big Stag’s Leap District Cab, showing immense fruit and great structure. Cherry and dark chocolate, long smooth finish. Great now or in 5 years.

12/14/2018 - FGS Likes this wine:

Astonishly good for a 32 yr old wine. Still had great structure and surprisingly tart fruit. Absolutely smooth and refined, with great herbal/savory notes. No bricking or thinning. Excellent from first sip until the last.

12/1/2018 - FGS Likes this wine:

Spice and dark fruit, followed by plum, spice and mocha. Getting better, and should continue to improve.

11/18/2018 - FGS Likes this wine:

Enjoyed this wine more than we did a year ago. More balanced, and fruit has found some harmony. Still very jammy, but more subtle. Consider holding for another year.

10/29/2018 - FGS wrote:

Young, but vibrant. Will need a few years to really shine, but fruit, structure and balance are there. Revisit 2020.

10/27/2018 - FGS Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous notes. Supple and round, with the fruit at the front. Can’t imagine it drinking any better than it is now.

10/20/2018 - FGS wrote:

A bit of a disappointment, honestly. First bottle we drank of this vintage, and not sure if it was better a couple of years ago, or will be better a couple years from now, but at this stage it seems disjointed. In the last year we’ve had the ‘09 and ‘10, which were smooth, integrated and very enjoyable. This bottle (and this could be bottle variant) was sharp, whafts of menthol and alcohol that never seemed to resolve, and none of the classics vanilla, oak and dark berries that are usually present in these wines. Hoping it was just a funky bottle, but will sit on the rest for a couple of years before revisiting.

10/6/2018 - FGS Likes this wine:

Blackberry, graphite and tobacco give way to earthy black fruit, with some savory notes. Medium-bodied, smooth and structured, this is opening well and should drink well for several years.

9/16/2018 - FGS Likes this wine:

Very nice bouquet on this wine. Bright fruit - cherry, raspberries and hints of floral notes. Smooth and delicate, this wine is fresh and bright, and matched well with our beer-can chicken.

9/16/2018 - FGS Likes this wine:

Drinking very well now. Consistent with previous note, but showing more balance, and the fruit is really starting to shine.

9/15/2018 - FGS Likes this wine:

Smooth and inviting, this is drinking well.