Patz & Hall

Articles About Patz & Hall

Reviewed Wines

2010 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

14.2% alc., $35. Sourced from Gap’s Crown, Durell, Dutton Ranch, Sun Chase, and Parmalee Hill vineyards. Whole cluster pressed, indigenous yeast fermentations, aged sur lie with weekly stirring, 100% malolactic fermentation in barrel, aged in 40% new French oak barrels, and bottled without filtration. · Pale straw color in the glass. Pleasant perfume of baked pear, honey and toast. Moderately rich with a comforting smoothness, featuring lemony, nutty, toasty flavors with a hint of toffee, leaving some lemon-driven scent on the lively finish. Seamless and thoroughly enjoyable. Very good. Reviewed October 2, 2012 ARTICLE »

2010 Patz & Hall Dutton Ranch Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

14.2% alc., $42. A vineyard designate for Patz & Hall since 1998. A blend from seven blocks of Chardonnay farmed by the Dutton family, largely planted with California heirloom selections (Robert Young, Rued, Hyde-Wente, and UCD clone 4). Whole cluster pressed, indigenous yeast fermentations, aged sur lie with weekly stirring, 100% malolactic fermentation in barrel, aged in 45% new French oak barrels. · Pale straw color in the glass. Aromas of peach, Asian pear, coconut and sawmill lead to very tasty flavors of baked peach, pear, lemon curd, cocoa and toffee. Very smooth in the mouth with well integrated supporting acidity, finishing bright and clean. Very well crafted and highly enjoyable, but not quite the flavor impact of the Hudson Vineyard offering. Very good (+). Reviewed October 2, 2012 ARTICLE »

2010 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., $45. Fruit from Gap’s Crown Vineyard is a major element in this wine, which also includes grapes from winegrowers like the Duttons, Martinellis, Charlie Chenoweth and Steve Hill. The season produced a concentrated crop with small berries and thick skins to this vintage Pinot Noir is one of the most extracted expressions of this wine ever. Wild and cultured yeast fermentations. Aged in 45% new French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. A full-bodied arsenal of dark berry, fruit leather, spice and raisin aromas and flavors with an earthy, forest floor undertone. A burly wine that makes no apologies for its copious fruit and tannin. Lacking finesse and nuance, it nevertheless accomplishes it’s goal in this very cool vintage. Good. Reviewed October 2, 2012 ARTICLE »

2010 Patz & Hall Chenoweth Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.8% alc., 814 cases, $55. Wild and cultured yeast fermentations, 10% whole clusters, aged in 60% new French oak barrels, bottled without fining or filtration. First designated as a single-vineyard bottling in 2004. This 7-acre vineyard is planted in Goldridge soils at the far western edge of the Russian River Valley AVA (Green Valley) overlooking the Chenoweth family’s homestead. It is farmed exclusively for Patz & Hall. Dijon clones. · Moderately dark reddish-purple hue in the glass. Upon opening, the nose is an array of savory notes of briar, Herbs de Provence and dairy, becoming more fruity over time exhibiting aromas of lovely, spiced raspberries. Upon entry, the wine immediately grabs your attention with ever expanding, palate satisfying flavors of dark cherries and dark red berries complimented by a hint of oak-driven vanillin and maple. Beautifully composed with balanced, suave tannins and focused acidity, finishing with a long and amorous kiss of black cherries. An exceptional wine that will reward furthering cellaring. Reviewed October 2, 2012 ARTICLE »

2010 Patz & Hall Hudson Vineyard Napa Carneros Chardonnay

14.2% alc., 454 cases, $55. Hudson Vineyard was founded in the 1980s by Lee Hudson and is considered one of the grand cru sites in Carneros. Sourced from a 4-acre block that is planted to the Hudson- Wente selection. Whole cluster pressed, indigenous fermentations, aged sur lie with weekly stirring, 100% malolactic fermentation in barrel, aged in 60% new French oak barrels, and bottled without filtration. · Light straw color in the glass. The wine draws you in with appealing aromas of honey, lemon curd, roasted almonds and toasty oak. Moderately rich on the attack with luscious flavors of baked pear, lemon peel, and toffee, finishing soft and comforting with a refreshing brightness due to harmonious citrus-driven acidity. Choose any superlative you want. A masterpiece and one of the greatest California Chardonnays I have tasted this year. Reviewed October 2, 2012 ARTICLE »

2010 Patz & Hall Hyde Vineyard Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay

14.2% alc., 1,364 case, $58. Released October 2012. Fifteenth vintage from this vineyard first planted in 1981. This vineyard shines in both hot and cool years. Hyde-Wente selection planted exclusively for Patz & Hall on the best soils at Hyde Vineyard. Very well-drained sandy, clay loam which typically produces low vigor and low yields. Whole cluster pressed, indigenous yeast fermentations, aged sur lie with weekly stirring, 100% MLF in barrel, aged in 52% new Burgundian French oak barrels. Unfiltered. · Light golden straw color and clear in the glass. Perfumey with attractive aromas of lemongrass, honey, pear and fresh air after a rain. Very classy, and of striking quality, with flavors of lemons, apples and oak-driven caramel and honey. Seamless, bone dry and done right. This is a wine that drinks so softly, you want to take another sip right away. Sublime seduction and one of California’s greatest Chardonnays. Reviewed May 5, 2013 ARTICLE »

2010 Patz & Hall Pisoni Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

14.9% alc., 400 cases, $85. Released March 2013. A vineyard-designate for Patz & Hall since 1997. Sourced from the vineyard’s Hermanos Block and famed Old Field. This wine sees more oak than other Patz & Hall Pinot Noirs and receives more bottle aging before release. Wild and cultured fermentations. 15% whole clusters. Aged in 80% new Burgundian French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Very ripe fruit aromas including blackberry jam on toast, plum reduction sauce and prune. Luscious on the palate with mid weight sappy flavors of blackberries, raspberries, raisins and spice. The oak is beautifully integrated. Modest tannins make for easy approachability in this vintage. Wears its alcohol well. Long, long finish. On the ripe side, but the fruit is captivating, and you have to love it. Very good. Reviewed May 5, 2013 ARTICLE »

2009 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

14.2% alc., $35. Released March 2011. A blend of fruit from Gap’s Crown Vineyard, Durell Vineyard, Dutton Ranch and Zio Tony Ranch. Whole cluster pressed, wild and cultured yeast fermentations, aged sur lie with weekly stirring, 100% MLF, aged in 40% new Burgundian French oak barrels. · Light straw color in the glass. Faint scent of citrus fruits and pear with a noticeable oak presence. Tasty core of lightly fruited flavors of baked pear, lemon, green apple and brioche, finishing with high-strung acidity, austere fruit and generous toasted oak. Decent. Reviewed July 1, 2011 ARTICLE »

2009 Patz & Hall Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Chardonnay

14.2% alc., $39. Released November 2010. A blend of California heritage clones and selections including Robert Young, Rued, Hyde-Wente, UC Davis clone 4 and Spring Mountain. Whole cluster pressed, wild and cultured fermentations, aged sur lie with weekly stirring, 100% MLF, aged in 40% new Burgundian oak barrels. · Light straw color in the glass. Scent of lemon curd, banana, roasted nuts and wet grass. Moderately rich core of white peach, pear, green apple and oak flavors, sprightly on the palate with a bright and refreshing finish marked by toasted oak. Good. Reviewed July 1, 2011 ARTICLE »

2009 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., $42. Released September 2010. Sourced from Gap’s Crown Vineyard (Petaluma Gap) as well as fruit from growers including the Dutton Brothers, William Hill, the Martinelli family, Charlie Chenoweth and Steve Hill. Wild and cultured fermentation. Aged in 40% new Burgundian French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Bright aromas of black fruits including plum with complimentary oak spice. Moderately intense and tasty array of black fruits, caressed by mild grippy tannins, exhibiting a vibrancy on the generous finish. A smooth, almost milky, texture is pleasing. Seamless and well-crafted. Year in and year out (since the first Sonoma Coast release in 1995) this is a dependable Sonoma Coast bottling that is favored by sommeliers. Source: website and retail. Very good. Reviewed July 1, 2011 ARTICLE »

2009 Patz & Hall Chenowith Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.8% alc., 635 cases, $55. This 7-acre vineyard was planted by Charlie Chenoweth on a knoll above his family’s homestead in Green Valley on the site of a former apple orchard. The vineyard was planted exclusively for Patz & Hall to an assortment of Dijon clones. Sixth vintage as a vineyard-designate for Patz & Hall. · Dark reddish-purple color in the glass. A beautifully composed wine with great character. Aromas of black cherries, herbs, spice, oak and jam on biscuit picking up intensity over time in the glass. Dense and earthy, deep and darkly fruited with accents of anise. The wine displays well-mannered tannins and a good spark of acidity on the very long finish. Continues to draw you in over time in the glass and is even better the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »

2009 Patz & Hall Hudson Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay

14.2% alc., $55. Released March 2011. From a unique block in the Hudson Vineyard that allows longer hangtime. The Hudson Vineyard was founded in the 1980s by Lee Hudson and is considered one the most prized sources of Chardonnay in Carneros. Whole cluster pressed, 100% indigenous yeast fermentations, aged sur lie with weekly stirring, 100% MLF, aged in 40% new Burgundian French oak barrels. Unfiltered. · Light straw color in the glass. Shy aromas of pear, brioche and petrichor. Delicious essence of baked apples with accents of pear jam, baking spice and toasty oak. Juicy and mouth filling, bright and clean, with a refreshing grip of acidity on the long finish. A wine of high pedigree that has the balance to last many years in the cellar. Very good. Reviewed July 1, 2011 ARTICLE »

2009 Patz & Hall Hyde Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay

14.2% alc., 896 cases, $55. Hyde Vineyard is an iconic source of Chardonnay in Carneros. The Hyde-Wente selection in this wine is planted on sandy, clay loam, offering very low vigor and excellent drainage. · Light straw color in the glass. Interesting aromatics featuring scents of orange peel, walnuts, vitamins, shoe box and petrichor. Reserved and suave on the palate with citrus flavors accented by notes of baked apple, pear and baking spices. Slightly creamy with bright mineral-driven acidity on the refreshingly crisp finish. Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »

2009 Patz & Hall Jenkins Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

15.8% alc., 437 cases, $55. This 18-acre vineyard was planted in 2001 by renowned viticulturist Charlie Chenoweth and is located on a set of hillsides sheltered from the coastal influences of the Petaluma Gap. Clones 667, 115 and 777. · Inky dark color in the glass. Appealing aromas of dark red rose petals, darker fruits, berry glaze and oak spice. Ripe and sappy core of blackberry and black plum fruit with a slight beet root, woodsy and savory bent. Full-bodied with well proportioned tannins and nicely integrated alcohol with a cut of citrusy acid on the back end. Still fine the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Good. Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »

2009 Patz & Hall Zio Tony Ranch Russian River Valley Chardonnay

14.2% alc., 592 cases, $60. This vineyard, planted in 1990, is owned and farmed by the Martinelli family and is planted to Dijon clones 76 and 95 on well-drained, low-vigor, Goldridge sandy loam soils. · Light straw color in the glass. Aromas of citrus, almond paste, fig, soy and polished wood. Moderately intense flavors of yellow stone fruits, and citrus with roasted nuts and spice in the background. Soft on the palate with a very good cut of acidity and impressive persistence on the dry finish. Very good. Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »

2009 Patz & Hall Hyde Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., 858 cases, $65. Patz & Hall has worked with Larry Hyde since 1990 and crafted a Pinot Noir from the Hyde Vineyard since 1996. The wine contains an array of clones but primarily Hyde-Calera selection and Swan clone. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Shy perfume of dark strawberry jam on toast, rose hips tea and spice. Dense, dark fruit flavors which really impress the mid palate. A bit linear and fruit-driven at this stage with noticeable oak in the background and frisky tannins. I sense plenty of potential in this wine but it will require patience. About the same the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Very good. Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »

2009 Patz & Hall Pisoni Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

14.9% alc., 526 cases, $85. 13th vintaqe for Patz & Hall from this vineyard. Fruit is sourced from original plantings dating to the early 1980s. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Shy and nondescript with delicate aromas of spiced dark berries, underbrush and hickory. Big-boned core of dark berry, black stone, and Hoison sauce flavors buried by aggressive tannins. Fruit-driven and primary at this stage, needing several years in the cellar to soften the tannins. Even then, will need protein (a steak for example) to ameliorate the tannins. Good (+). Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »

2006 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., $34. · This wine is all about black cherry and black raspberry fruit with a healthy dose of oak. It is an in-your-face gulp of fruit that will appeal to lovers of this style. There are still some unresolved tannins (the wine is quite young and one of the first wines released each vintage - rushed to the market because of the huge demand). This is a wine you can count on for consistency year in and year out. Reviewed April 7, 2008 ARTICLE »

2006 Patz & Hall Hyde Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir

14.8% alc., $60. · Scents of berries, oak char and barnyard. Pretty core of berry fruit with an oak sidecar. Some charm and persistence on the finish which leaves a touch of heat in its wake. I get the feeling that this wine will become more expressive with another year or two in the bottle. Good but not great at this point. Reviewed June 16, 2009 ARTICLE »

2005 Patz & Hall Pisoni Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

14.6% alc., $65. · Noticeably lighter in color than most of the other Pisoni Vineyard wines. Attractive scents of brambly cherries, sage, herbs and faint oak. The flavor emphasis is on dark red berries with an underpinning of savory herbs. Smooth and relatively light in weight with soft tannins. This wine represents the more sensual, elegant side of Pisoni Vineyard and is quite enjoyable. Reviewed October 3, 2009 ARTICLE »

2004 Patz & Hall Chenoweth Ranch Green Valley Pinot Noir

692 $47 A joint effort between winemakers James Hall and Anne Moses and the sales and marketing team of Donald and Heather Patz. This is the first release from this vineyard located in the hills above Green Valley in Sonoma County. The planting is all Dijon clones. I tasted this wine on several occasions in the last year without much of an impression for me, but now it has finally come around. · Red fruits and a bouquet of roses in the nose. An earthy wine tasting of wood-framed red cherries and red raspberries. A bit muscular but tannins are svelte. Reviewed December 16, 2007 ARTICLE »

2004 Patz & Hall Chenowith Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

692 cases, $47. Patz & Hall have been making highly-coveted Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays for years. The wines are a joint effort between winemakers James Hall and Anne Moses and the sales and marketing team of Donald and Heather Patz. This is the first release from this vineyard located in the hills above Green Valley. The planting is all Dijon clones. The winery opened a wine tasting salon in Napa which is available for private and seated tasting by reservation for $35 (85 Bordeaux Way, Suite A, Napa, 707-265-7700). · The wine has an attractive deep purple robe. Lovely aromas of cherries, cola and spice waft from the glass. I wanted to drink the nose. The flavors follow in step but are restrained in comparison to the nose. A solid wine with brisk acidity and a touch of dryness on the finish. Right now the nose trumps the flavors but time in the bottle may change that. Reviewed January 22, 2007 ARTICLE »