Today we share the incredible journey of Ralph Hertelendy. Originally from Hungary, Hertelendy settled down in the San Francisco Bay Area. Born to be an enophile, he was 15 when he created his first beer and then made his first wine in a basement at age 25. After getting his business degree from the University of San Francisco, Ralph became a sommelier and worked for several wineries in the Napa Valley as a Winemaker’s Assistant and in sales.
Phillip Titus, one of Napa’s great winemakers, crafts these wines to be big, dense and loaded with flavor complexity. A graduated of the famed UC Davis Enology and Viticulture program, Titus began his focus on viticulture and wine at the age of 12 when he began helping his father in the family vineyard.
Hertelendy made amazing wines in 2022. The 2023 wines are even better. I adore the 2023 Hertelendy ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Franc (OB, 96) which is already drinking so beautifully and has loads of texture and flavor range. The best Chardonnay I have tasted from this house, their 2023 ‘Woolsey Road’ (OB, 95) is concentrated, performed and exudes class. Learn more about this famed Napa house at https://hertelendy.com/ and here are the outstanding new wines by Hertelendy.
2023 Hertelendy ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Better and more finesse-driven than the ’22, the 2023 ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ comes from this esteemed location in Russian River Valley. Golden in the glass, this comes off dense and delicious with a seamless mouthfeel and glorious length. Rich pineapple and mango parade with saline drenched peach, baking spice laced pastry crust and shades of Macadamia nut on the palate. Downright delicious to enjoy now, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next eight plus years. Drink 2026-2034- 95
2023 Hertelendy ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2023 ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir was aged in both new and neutral oak barrels prior to bottling. Juicy raspberry and Yakima cherry combine on the nose with salted walnut tones. The palate is elegant and shows gorgeous soil character, alongside bright cranberry and guava fruits, with cola accents. Complex and neatly-textured, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 95
2022 Hertelendy ‘Audere’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Audere’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Malbec, all sourced from the Napa Valley. Inky in the glass, this shows off black tea, Middle Eastern spices and dark rose petals on the nose. The palate is powerful and well-structured with terrific weight and refined tannins. Loads of chocolate and espresso bean flavors collide with dense dark fruits. Juicy and delicious, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 94
2023 Hertelendy ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Franc- A delightful bottling, the 2023 Hertelendy ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Franc has a portion of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. This is decadent and delicious stuff that is already drinking beautifully. Arabica bean and huckleberry compote flavors meld well with graphite, Provencale herbs and refined tannins on the palate. Full-bodied and filled with salty minerality, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2026-2042- 96
2023 Hertelendy ‘Signature Mountain Red Blend’ Red Wine- The incredible 2023 Hertelendy ‘Signature Mountain Red Blend’ Red Wine is a sensational combination of Merlot and Cabernet Franc that was stored in nearly all new French oak before bottling. Alluring right away, this offers cedar and potpourri aromatics alongside wet gravel and shades of sweet pipe tobacco. The palate is harmonious and rich with refined tannins and great viscosity as this Right Bank-inspired blend is already drinking beautifully. Enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2026-2042- 96
2023 Hertelendy ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Another world-class edition of this wine, the 2023 Hertelendy ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored in a combination of manly new French and Hungarian Oak barrels prior to bottling. This is beautifully-expressive in its heady youth. Red and dark florals parade with Turkish coffee, cardamom dusted black fruits and dark chocolate shavings on the nose. The palate is silky and soft on the approach as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Voluptuous, sturdy and dense, enjoy this outstanding bottling now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2026-2042- 96
2023 Hertelendy ‘Napa Valley’ Malbec- Admittedly, this is the first edition of this wine I have tasted. The 2023 ‘Napa Valley’ Malbec is beautifully-perfumed stuff with loads of pencil lead, blue fruits and violets on the nose. The palate is powerful and poised with serious tension and salty/stony minerality. Intense blackberry and huckleberry flavors combine with Turkish coffee and exotic spices on the palate. A joy to consume now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2042- 96
2023 Hertelendy ‘Legend’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A gorgeous edition of this wine, the 2023 Hertelendy ‘Legend’ is world-class Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine that was stored in nearly all new French and Hungarian oak. Very inky in the glass, this is opulent and decadent stuff on the mid-palate. Dark currants and creme de violette combine with tar and wet loamy soils on the palate. A delight to savor in its heady youth, watch this evolve over the next two decades. Drink 2026-2046- 97