HALL is one of the most gorgeous wineries in Napa. Having tasted there for more than a decade, HALL was founded by.Kathryn and Craig Hall who acquired the historic St. Helena Bergfeld Winery in 2003 and re-opened as HALL St. Helena in July of that year. This winery’s location was previously home of the Napa Valley Co-Op, producing 40% of Napa Valley’s wines. In 2013, The Hall family completed the restoration of the 1885 Bergfeld Winery and merged history and innovation with the completion of California’s first LEED® Gold Certified winery. Vibrant and modern, this is a stunning facility to try their amazing new wines. HALL has more than 500 acres of estate vineyards, primarily growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.
HALL winemaker Steve Leveque is an exceptional talent.. Previously working at Robert Mondavi Winery as well as Chalk Hill Estate Winery in Sonoma, his new HALL lineup was seriously impressive. The new 2014 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 97) is an ethereal wine that is truly up there with the best in Napa with its wonderful purity and seamless quality. Even better The wine is a remarkable achievement by HALL. Even better was the 2015 HALL ‘Rainin’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 99) which is the best wine that I have tried all year. This remarkable wine is part of their ‘Platinum Collection’ that is one for the most serious collector. Learn more about these special wines at http://www.hallwines.com Here are the stunning new releases by HALL wines.
2015 HALL ‘Coer’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Coer’ is a Santa Helena appellation red blend, primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon. HALL sources this wine from host of estate vineyards located in this appellation both in the hills and the valley floor. This shows a marvelous purity of fruit on the nose with creme de cassis, mocha, anise and blueberry compote. The palate shows wonderful richness and depth, showing a seamless quality. Blueberry compote, and gobs of dark fruits, with espresso bean mark the palate shows wonderful viscosity and tension. This will be another long ager. Drink 2018-2040- 94
2015 HALL ‘Bergfeld’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the 20 acre property at HALL, this wine is largely Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Merlot. Some vines on this property go back to the 1870s. The wine begins with deep aromas of graphite, Turkish coffee, blackberry compote and wonderful tannins. The silky texture and purity of fruit provides the mouth a wonderful smoothness. This is a monster that needs time to fully amalgamate. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to give this at least a two to three hour decant. Drink 2019-2040- 95
2015 HALL ‘Eighteen Seventy-Three’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Eighteen Seventy-Three is an amazing wine that was sourced from the eastern side of the Napa Valley, where HALL has vines planted on the Vaca Range. The nose shows massive dark fruits with creme de cassis, Turkish coffee and a graphite edge. The palate shows wonderful earthy edge with tremendous dark fruits and chocolate flavors that delight the senses. This will age marvelously over the next two plus decades. If enjoying in its nascent phase, be sure to give this beauty at least a two hour decant. Drink 2019-2040- 96
2015 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2015 ‘Katheryn Hall’ follows up the scintillating 2014 bottling. The wine is sourced from the Sacrashe Vineyard as well as many other vineyards throughout the Napa Valley. The nose takes on a wonderful herbal edge with red bell pepper combined with massive creme de cassis, espresso bean, sweet pipe tobacco and red cherry compote aromas that marvelously build in the glass. Immediately you are drawn to the silky texture of this marvelous wine. The seamless quality to this wine is remarkable as this glides through the mid-palate. Blueberry compote, blackberry pie, Turkish coffee and dark chocolate shaving flavors all impress. While this is simply marvelous now this truly beautiful wine can be enjoyed over the next two plus decades. Drink 2018-2040- 97
2015 HALL ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Former HALL head winemaker, Mike Reynolds, heads the blending of this wine which is intended to be a deeper expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is a vineyard selection of the more dense fruits. The nose is highly complex and intense with espresso, dark chocolate and gobs of creme de cassis currently on parade. The hedonistic nose brings you back to the glass for more. Creme de cassis, pencil lead, dark cherry compote, mocha, anise and red bell pepper flavors all marvelous build in the glass. Very intense and focused, with moderate tannins, this is an extremely long ager that needs at least one more year of bottle age. Drink 2019-2040- 96
2015 HALL ‘Stag’s Leap District’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Stag’s Leap District’ wine is typically harvested earlier than wines from the other AVAs for HALL. The nose is a beautiful combination of red and dark fruits with dried herbs and dusty terroir. Hugely bright, yet dense, the combination of tannin, fruit weight and acidity really invigorates. Creme de cassis, mocha, red cherry cordial and sweet pipe tobacco flavors all marvelously combine in the glass. Drink 2018-2040- 96
2015 HALL ‘Exzellenz’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from the Sacrache Vineyard, this is a barrel selection wine that shows a wonderfully dark profile. The nose shows marvelous herbaceusjness and ripe dark fruits with creme de cassis, Turkish coffee, toast and tobacco leaf aromatics. The mouthfeel really entices as the smooth texture glides across the mid-palate. Espresso bean, black tea, mocha, creme de cassis, graphite and dusty earthy flavors all marvelously combine in the glass. Rich and layered, this is a decadent treat that needs at least a two hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2018-2045- 97
2015 HALL ‘Rainin Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Located at the northern end of Napa Valley on Diamond Mountain, this 8 acre vineyard falls on a hillside, loaded with conifer trees and largely rocky soils. The ‘Rainin Vineyard’ is a barrel select from this special vineyard. The nose is scintillating, currently displaying Turkish coffee, creme de cassis, dusty terroir, red bell pepper and red cherry compote. The insanely good mouthfeel coats the mid-palate as the entry is insanely decadent. The texture to this wine is downright ethereal. Creme de cassis, red bell pepper, creme de cassis, sour black cherry compote, mocha and Asian spice with tea leaf flavors all impress. The seamless quality of this wine is simply amazing. This is near perfection in the bottle. Drink 2019-2045- 99
2015 HALL ‘The Bishop’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Named after the winemaker, Steve Levesque, whose last name means ‘The Bishop’ in French. The 2015 vintage is a blend of Howell Mountain and Diamond Mountain fruit. The nose is deep and intoxicating with creme de cassis, Turkish coffee graphite and blackberry compote all mingling together in the glass. Once in the mouth, the silky texture marvelously coats the mid-palate. Black fruits dominate the mid-palate with coffee ground flavors and sweet pipe tobacco beautifully come together in the glass. Decadent and rich, this will age marvelously over the next three decades. Drink 2019-2045- 97
2015 HALL ‘Sacrashe Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Sacrashe Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the Rutherford AVA. This wine is a 12 barrel selection entirely sourced from this vineyard. The nose takes on sweet pipe tobacco, creme de cassis, graphite and mocha flavors that all create a wonderful layered effect. The mouthfeel and intensity of this wine is superlative. The fruit weight and tannins structure of the wine really impresses with gobs of dark fruits like blackberry compote, cassis, and also yielding espresso bean, sweet pipe tobacco, and dark chocolate fudge flavors. Massive and somewhat of a slumbering giant, this will cellar well for the next three decades. Drink 2019-2045- 98