A winery with serious prestige, HALL was founded in 1992 by Katheryn and Craig Hall. What was initially a very simply constructed tasting room, roughly ten years ago HALL have built one of the most beautiful, state of the art, wineries in Napa. This is a must visit for any serious Napa enophile. I always enjoy my visits to this special spot in St. Helena and although I will not have a chance to visit this year with the current Covid-19 pandemic, I will very much look forward to my 2021 visit.
HALL also have two separate lines, WALT (focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) and BACA (focusing on Zinfandel) that are seriously good in their own right. I have been blown away with the consistency of these wines, particularly in recent years. It is clear that the focus on quality is paramount as this winery has not only been blessed with an exceptional run of vintages but has been known to succeed even in the more challenging vintages like 2010 and 2011. HALL now makes a series of lower priced Cabernet Sauvignon wines that are really good. I loved the 2016 HALL ‘Craig’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 92) and their 2016 HALL ‘Craig’s Second Bottling’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 92) which are equally good and represent a tremendous value in Napa. The new 2017 HALL Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 93) is a dense treat that delivers a long finish. Learn more about these beautiful wines at hallwines.com Here are the fantastic new release wines by HALL.
2016 HALL ‘Craig’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 HALL ‘Craig’s’ shows deep dark fruits with shades of chocolate fudge and sagebrush undertones on the nose. The palate has good acidity with layers of mocha, anise and blackberry compote, with shades of black cherry cordial and minerals. Enjoy this beautiful new wine in the short-term. Drink 2020-2028- 92
2016 HALL ‘Craig’s Second Bottling’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The ‘Craig’s Second Bottling’ is a silky blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot that was aged in 65% new French oak for 22 months before bottling. Dense and chewy, with gorgeous layers of violets, creme de cassis, anise and graphite all amalgamate on the palate. With great length and viscosity, I can see this cellaring well for another decade or more. Drink 2020-2030- 92
2017 HALL Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2017 HALL Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful, age-worthy release that is already brilliant on its release. Shades of sandalwood and mocha, with tar and blackberry compote all combine aromatically in the glass. The palate is dense and plush, showing a soft, rich texture. Layers of blueberry pie and black tea, alongside Asian spices and mocha all artfully dance together on the palate. The long, gratifying finish accentuates this great new release. Already delicious in its youth, the 2017 HALL Cabernet Sauvignon will provide drinking enjoyment for another decade to come. Drink 2020-2030- 93