Hunnicutt Wines

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A visit to Hunnicutt Wines was a bit different by their design. On their 13 acre estate, no vineyards are planted, but you will not be disappointed. They opened in 2001 and have been ramping since. They do have some 18,000 square feet of caves which serves besides Hunnicutt, another 18 production wineries and some twelve unique winemakers!


The grounds are wooded and inviting to sit outside (not on the rainy day I was there however) or even inside at their quaint tasting room.


One of the noteworthy sights is seeing how many different styles and sizes of barrels/vats/stainless steel containers are featured by these winemakers in one location.


Their winemaker is the never standing still, Kirk Venge. He can’t afford to stand still with his hands on some many wineries all producing exceptional wines. Besides Hunnicutt, this list includes: Venge Vineyard, Igneous, Macauley Vineyard, Frazier, Bacio Divino, JAX, B Cellars, Trespass (on my list of the best of 2015), JR Wine and Calistoga Ranch.


While tasting their Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon three wines stood out for varying reasons. First their 2013 Zinfandel from Calistoga thus far this year, it received my highest scores for this varietal. You are first met with a distinct nose, a hint of blackberry on the palate and a Zin that could be consumed with the best meats or simply by itself as it is smooth and the fruits are reserved.

The second wine that stood out was the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon which was a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. This wine was immediately approachable, drinkable and could be consumed upon purchase. This is their flagship wine and was surprisingly moderately priced for a Calistoga Cabernet!

The third wine was their Oakville 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Brinkman Block from Rutherford, specifically 100% Georges III Vineyard. This provided much more depth and tannins. This wine is meant to be laid down between 15-20 years. It provided both depth and layers on the palate and a deep ruby color.


****Don’t forget the article on some unique offers from three wineries as the time frame to “collect” will expire.****


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