California, Pinot Noir

The finished wine has floral scents and flavors of black cherry, plum and strawberry jam. Hints of black pepper, tamarind and vanilla resonate in a smooth, soft and savory finish.

Lifted strawberry and sweet ripe raspberry characters attack you on the nose and palate. Subtle dusty overtones with a sweet smokiness help to make this a powerful yet elegant Pinot with plenty of class. - The Winery

From Appellation America:
"The duo collaborate on the winemaking and source the fruit from some of California’s best-known appellations, so there’s a Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and so on. The fruit for this Pinot Noir comes from the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, an appellation made famous by the likes of Pisoni, Roar and Testarossa. But where those wines can be so big that they almost don’t taste like Pinot Noir, the Hayman & Hill comes down firmly on the pretty side of Pinot. It has plenty of bright cherry and strawberry flavors, and there’s enough structure to allow the wine to pair well with foods like salmon and roast chicken."

"2008 Hogwash exhibits a beautiful deep salmon hue and wonderful aromas of framboise, first of the season berries and ripe summer stone fruits. Hogwash is a rose perfectly matched for classic summertime dishes such as vine-ripe tomato salad and grilled fish. As well as wonderfully quaffable on warm summer day by the pool or over a spirited game of bocce. At both times serious and fun. Hogwash is the perfect summertime wine." -The Winery

Extremely Limited! Only 550 cases were produced of Hope & Grace Pinot Noir, from Robert Talbott’s renowned Sleepy Hollow Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Sourced from a small 3 acre parcel within block” A” of the Sleepy Hollow Ranch. This wine is crafted in the traditional burgundian style, full of richness, earthiness and velvety textures.

"Intoxicating aromas of wild berries, amaretto & white pepper. Dark cherry fruit slides across the palate with a rich, juicy finish. Beautifully balanced with vivacious fruit, a perfect compliment to most any cuisine." -The Winemaker

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Source: Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County
Barrel Aging: 18 Months Remond & Cadus French Oak Barrels
Winemaker: Charles Hendricks
Production: 550 cases

88 Points - Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine, October 2008
"This quite harmonious effort comes with the dual advantages of wide distribution and a somewhat more open architecture than its cellarmates above. Still, like them, the wine trades on its very fine sense of crafting and polish rather than on bombast and we would not be averse to having it alongside dishes like roast loins of veal or lamb."

Rating and Review for 2006 Vintage:

90 Points - Wine Advocate, December 2008
"The earthier 2006 Pinot Noir Russian River displays scents of clove, allspice, licorice, and dark cherries. This is a meaty, earthy example of well-made Pinot. Drink it over the next 3-5 years. This Chardonnay / Pinot Noir specialist should receive rave notices from bargain hunters looking for a top-flight Chardonnay that is complex, rich, and widely available." -Robert Parker

Rating and review for 2007 vintage:

90 Points - Wine & Spirits, October 2009
"There's a fineness to the raspberry and fraises des bois flavor in this wine, with the crisp impression of fruit just coming into ripeness. The aroma is floral and tight, the finish showing more oak than fruit at the moment, needing a year in bottle to come into balance." -Joshua Greene

The Estate Pinot Noir shows an elegant mix of black cherry and plum fruit, layered with intense floral notes and subtle nuances. Balanced and complex, the layers reveal flavors of blackberry, cranberry, wild mushroom and dusty earth. Plush and velvet textured, this stylish Pinot ends witha long memorable finish.

"In the glass the wine has a powerful bouquet of dried cherries and plum spice. On the palate the flavors begin with a rose petal character that follows with wild strawberry and clove tones. The balance of earthiness from the smell of a redwood grove to the elegance of delicate spice best describe the mouth feel. This Pinot Noir would complement a hearty pasta dish or a garlic spiced rack of lamb." -The Winery

87 Points - Wine Advocate, February 2010
"The other Pinots include the tart, sweet and sour cherry, pomegranate, mossy, austere 2008 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast. Prices are very fair, and these Pinots should be drunk in their first 3-4 years of life. This Gallo-owned operation does a remarkable job with Pinot Gris, making one of the finest as well as reasonably priced in California." -Robert Parker