VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

Similar to prior note, but a little more tannic & needed a longer decant or more time; outstanding, drink or hold

2014 vintage

Double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby, blck cherries on both nose & palate with the oak fully intergrated, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding & IMHO about as good as cabernet can be as it begins to enter a likely long plateau, drink or hold, no rush

2014 vintage

One of the best 2014's out of Oakville, maybe even Napa. Such a beautiful expression of this vineyard. Very singular in expression vs. other vintages. Still on the ascent. 98+

2014 vintage

Cracked one of these with friends last weekend. Color is dark ruby with a hint of browning. Aromas are still very youthful but gaining a hint of tertiary notes. On the palate this is in a sweet spot. Still showing youthful plum, cherry, berries and wood spices but also again that hint of patina. Acidity and tannins are flawless right now. A wonderful Friday night wine. 95

2014 vintage

WOTN at Echo & Rig in a good spot and held together despite traveling [see 001 review] dark fruit long length with elegance and mystery liked by all

2014 vintage

Vine Hill Ranch Vertical Tasting and Dinner (Krengel Hacienda) : Brighter fruit, great flavor, good weight and good finish very good+

2014 vintage

Last wine night of the year and then detoxing a few weeks, maybe a month. Lineup of VV BTK '19 Abreu RH '16 Seven Apart The Summit '19 VHR '14 Bevan Sentinel Ridge '19 Outpost '18 Moon Hollow Syrah '21 5 tasters Abreu RH won the wine of the night. VV BTK '19 and VHR '14 were a close 2a 2b sort of deal. Cannot believe this is a 10 year old wine. So fresh, So pretty in all aspects. …

2014 vintage

Had this on Thanksgiving after a 2007 Beringer Private reserve and 2015 Memento Mori. A totally different beast than the MM on this night but almost as enjoyable and memorable. Lighter bodied and fruited than the MM but exhibited nice complexity, balance and energy. Mostly dark red fruited with a long finish. Not quite up to the level of some other vintages but an awesome bottle nonetheless.

2014 vintage

PNP Great dark purple color. Wonderful blackberry, raspberry profile. Really lovely creamy fruit. Some cedar-box notes, baking spices. Really enjoyable fruit on this wine. I want to get a couple more of these.

2014 vintage

We had a tasting which included the ‘21. Both wines were decanted for +4 hours and they both were delicious. Dark color, warm palate, explosive fruit which will soften over time, rich on the palate, long finsih and a joy to enjoy with wonderful conversation. TY Heather and Bruce.

2014 vintage

WOTN at Mark's birthday soiree in Highwood surrounded by [mostly] disappointing older cabs this was a shining light

2014 vintage

PNP directly into a wide base Josephine brilliant decanter, which I love by the way! Medium rudy, red fruits of plum & pomegranate. Firm tannins that dissipate as the fruit slowly comes forward. This bottle offered a different experience than the one a year ago. A little more body and firm tannins than I remember. Both equally enjoyable with great freshness and energy which might be missed if over decanted. I've always loved this vintage of VHR and still pick …

2014 vintage

One of 3 bottles in a recent shipment. This was the hottest temp bottle out of the box, even with the styrofoam inserts. Decanted almost 2 hours then back into a clean bottle to take to HMC's for dinner. Slow ox'd another 90 minutes there, so almost 4 hours of total airtime. Initially, a bit of a 'dud'? Kind of flat throughout. Nice fruit, nice color, nice tannins, just a lot of nice....maybe a 91? By the end this began …

2014 vintage

Seems to have slipped a little since my last bottle back in 2018. I know this wine well, having gone through five excellent bottles… but not recently. Might just be this bottle, but the nose seems a bit oxidized, the palate is somewhat soft and muddled, and there is a slight madierized character on the finish. Improves with air, seemed best after about three hours. I’ll assume this just isn’t the best bottle, but must admit I’m glad it was …

2014 vintage

Few hours glass decant. Tasted next to the Keplinger ‘19 VHR. This was a bit better, 5 year age difference, developed well, complete and bit fuller which my palate loves. Lots of dark cherry notes, blackberries, ripe plums, dark chocolate, crushed rocks, herbs, tobacco and slight mint. Tasted next to Kamen ‘18 and my palate loves that even more! Cheers!

2014 vintage

Even though VHR is on the same Oakville terroir as Mayacamas and Harlin it somehow tastes so different to its cohorts. This is the first of my 2014s and it was worth the wait, albeit that it still has improvement in it. After a three hour decant it was still a little reserved but gradually opened over the next 2-3 hrs to reveal a dark violet both in color and bouquet. On the palate there’s blackberry, black cherry and a …

2014 vintage

2013 and 2014 tasted side by side. See notes from 2013, but to me this is not as balanced yet as 2013. More fruit on the front end with lengthy 30 second plus finish

2014 vintage

Just amazing. Drinking great with a long long ways to go. This was the first of six and I may not touch it again for 4-5 years. Lots dark berry fruit, spices (anise, allspice) on the finish.

2014 vintage

Beautiful wine. Decanted about 2 hours. Balanced, harmonious with toasted oak, dark berry fruit, spices, fresh tomatoes, mild tar, baker’s dark chocolate and dust. Exceptional structure, good acid, nice tannins on long finish.

2014 vintage

VHR, Carter-Beckstoffer, & MacDonald head to head all 2014's. All three sourced from grapes within about 400 yards of each other. 3 vastly different styles. VHR showed the elegant side of wine. Bruce bucked the fruit bomb trend and thus has has become a favorite of mine. VHR was restrained but not hollow. Peschon has great talent at this. Carter was a more aggressive version of VHR. Showed the best of the 3, at this time, with its balance of …

2014 vintage

(at Gatehouse - St Helena) Bruce was so kind to let us raid his cellar stock. Just an incredible bottle that turned into magic with 60 minutes in the decanter. Deep garnet color. The nose is stunning - Blackberry fruit, tobacco, fennel. Fullish but so stylish. Long on the palate yet with impeccable balance. Brilliant with beef cheeks. a great wine. (96)

2014 vintage

My super-cute friend brought this for dinner at Persimmons in Providence, RI. It was a welcome addition to a very nice dinner! We decanted upon arrival, waited about 30 mins, then drank it over the next 2 hours. Nose showed classic dark fruit, bramble and spice with hints of tobacco, tar, bark and cedar. Palate showed lots of dark fruit and some tart cherry with some cocoa, pencil lead, and river rock. Toward the end of the bottle, hints of …

2014 vintage

Hands down my favorite wine from the 2014 vintage. The mouthfeel is weightless like gravity slowing pulling a silk sheet. Undeniably Vine Hill Ranch fruit with all the classic dark bramble berry fruit, floral rose, five spice and subtle crushed stone. IMO, this wine is a few years from full integration and will continue to develop beautifully over the next 20 plus. Every vintage should be different and that is the case with this wine. Terroir, check! Vintage, check! I …

2014 vintage

My nephew, nieces and other family members came over for Easter and my wife's birthday. I let them decide on the wines...their first wine choice was this one (pretty good choice!) PnP, but drank over a couple hours. Wine started great and just kept getting better! I would recommend a one hour decant, if you have time to enjoy this wine and love watching it unfurl in the glass....if a tasting with a small pour, I would give it a …

2014 vintage

Opened for my birthday, an hour decant should have given 3. As it opened it was fantastic

2014 vintage

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VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

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