A warm early fall day for the Kathryn Hall release brought me to the Napa Valley to taste the new wines at HALL. For several years I tasted through the 2022 vintage wines which were really impressive despite the heat dome which seriously impacted Napa’s harvest. “We had the two optical sorters going to pull the raisins out” said vice president of winemaking Megan Gunderson, who has been at HALL for more than 20 years. “I remember it being 9 at night and over 90 degrees. Napa was hot.” She continued “The sorting was really helpful and you have a team who has been through this together. We have elevated Brix and some fruit that was compromised and how can you make the best wine possible? Extraction, you have the fear that if you go after that then you can get at some under-ripe stuff. Things jumped in sugar and all of those things we are working on how to ferment and pump-overs and a lot of people had issues with stuck fermentation because of the elevated Brix levels.” She stated “But we had one stuck lot. Just one!” Megan has an amazing understanding of the valley having been through so many vintages (and many hot ones).
She explained that in 2022 the use of the sorting machines made yields lower but overall quality was really good. For years I have admired the wines of HALL, not only for their wines made in great vintages but for their ability to make great wine in tough vintages. I recall their 2011s being some of the better ones in the Napa Valley. I tasted through the latest range of wines including some 2023 futures. 2023 as a vintage seems to have a lot of promise from this slow and moderate growing season. The wines show marvelous structure. I was enamored by the 2022 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is lush and soft with a silky texture. The 2023 Kathryn Hall (OB, 96-98) is going to be a totally stunning rendition of this wine, loaded with a massive core of black and blue fruits. Learn more about these incredible wines at hallwines.com Here are the beautiful new wines by HALL.
2022 HALL ‘1873’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 HALL ‘1873’ Cabernet Sauvignon is wine that was named after first grapes documented on the HALL property and has 9% Merlot blended in. Sourced mainly eastern Vacca hillsides as well as some other sites, this wine opens with tar, anise and black currents that mingle well with espresso grounds and wet stone. Refined and elegant with a seamless sense of mid-palate depth and richness, enjoy this fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2038- 94
2022 HALL ‘Ellie’s’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2022 ‘Ellie’s’ revels in its boysenberry and black currant fruit aromatics alongside tar and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied and filled with beautiful freshness with an opulent texture and core of black and blue fruits, enjoy now and over the next twelve years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 94
2022 HALL ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 HALL ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ Cabernet Sauvignon is mainly sourced from Diamond Mountain with a small portion coming from the Rainin Vineyard. The wine is a tannic, chiseled monster that will need a few years to tame. Black currant cordial, espresso grounds, black forest cake and suggestions of Cuban cigar all come together magically on the palate. The wine is massive and dense yet shows loads of mouth-watering acidity. This is going to be a joy to drink someday. Drink 2025-2045- 96
2022 HALL ‘Stag’s Leap District’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This 2022 ‘Stag’s Leap District’ come from two main sites including the Schweizer and Taylor Vineyards. The wine shows off Bing cherry and red florals on the nose alongside sweet pipe tobacco and suggestions of coffee grounds. The palate is fresh and lithe with a smooth texture and great sense of weight and length. A beautiful wine to enjoy now, savor this now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 95
2022 HALL ‘Montagna’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 HALL ‘Montagna’ Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from this site that is strongly influenced by Lake Hennessy. The site is western facing as this opens with beautiful black florals alongside coffee grounds, dark chocolate shavings, graphite and iron ore. The palate is elegant and refined with a seamless mouthfeel and good sense of length. Medium to full-bodied, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 95
2022 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ comes from a range of sites including the Sacrashe, Carpenter as well as the Cook, Stagecoach and Beller Vineyards. This shows plenty of mid-palate richness and an opulent texture with beautiful fresh dark fruits. This is elegant, seamless wine that is already drinking really well. This is an amazing achievement in a generally difficult vintage that is best consumed now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2037- 95
2023 BACA ‘Home Base’ Zinfandel- This 2023 Zinfandel comes from a cooler vintage. The palate is rich and dense with loads of exotic spices. The freshness of the wine really drives this as dense black cherry and blackberry flavors mingle with bramble and green herbs on the palate. Showing great mouth-watering acidity, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2024-2036- 94
2023 HALL ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (92-94)
2023 HALL ‘Jack’s Masterpiece’ Cabernet Sauvignon (97-99)
2023 HALL ‘Diamond Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (96-98)
2023 HALL ‘Stag’s Leap’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (96-98)
2023 HALL ‘Montagna’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (96-98)
2023 HALL ‘Kathryn Hall’ Cabernet Sauvignon- (96-98)