ExpressionsofPlace HALL 2023 v12 spreads - Flipbook - Page 30
AGING WINES
H
ere at HALL, our approach to winemaking is deliberate and
meticulous, guided by the selection of vineyards from the
most prestigious appellations within Napa Valley. Our overarching
intention has always been to craft wines that not only delight the
palate upon release, but also possess the essential framework
and equilibrium for prolonged maturation. Each of the bottlings
featured herein should have substantial longevity of 15 to 20
years, with many poised to endure far beyond that horizon.
When a HALL Cabernet Sauvignon is young, the wine expresses
deep garnet color, fruit aromas, a forward tannin structure and
a backbone of acidity. As time gracefully unfurls its tapestry,
a harmonious transformation takes center stage—a dance
choreographed by the gentle waltz of slow oxidation. The color
mellows into a distinguished brick-like patina, the exuberant fruit
aromas gradually recede, supplanted by nuanced, intricate notes
of maturity. Meanwhile, the structural pillars of tannin and acidity,
once prominent, embark on a graceful retreat, rendering the wines
with an unparalleled elegance and distinctiveness.
For some wine lovers, the bright fruit and robust structure defines
the allure of young Cabernet Sauvignon. Others, in contrast, find
fascination in the intermediate phase, where the wine strikes a
balance between fruit and a delicate complexity. Finally, there is a
cohort who savors the rewards of the aging process, embracing
the nuanced elegance and refinement that only extended
maturation can bestow—a testament to the virtue of patience.
We note, however, that assessing the moment of peak drinkability
for any wine is a personal decision. The important question that
you should ask yourself is: “What age of wines do I find the
most appealing?”
ACCOLADES
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
94-96:
TWI
96+: JD
95: WS
Not
produced
97+: JD
97: WA
Diamond
Mountain
District
96-98: JD
96+: JD
98: JD
91+: WA
98+: JD
96+: WA
Howell
Mountain
94-96:
TWI
97: JD
95-97: VM
97: OB
94: WA
97: WA
96-98: JD
96: JD
96: WS
96: OB
97: JD
97+: WA
APPELLATION WINES
Mount
Veeder
Stags
Leap
District
SINGLE VINEYARD WINES
Montagna
Vineyards
95-97:
TWI
97+: JD
97: JD
94: WA
97: JD
Not yet
produced
Exzellenz
95-97: JD
94: WS
95: WS
92-94: VM
97-100:
WA
99: WA
Bergfeld
Not yet
reviewed
95: OB
95: OB
93: WA
94: WS
93-95+:
JD
PLATINUM COLLECTION
Rainin
Vineyard
95-97:
TWI
98: WA
95-97: WA
99: OB
100: JD
95-97+:
JD
Beller
Vineyard
100: OB
96: TWI
Not yet
produced
Not yet
produced
Not yet
produced
Not yet
produced
Sacrashe
Vineyard
96-99: JD
99: JD
98: JD
100: OB
97+: WA
98: WA
WA: The Wine Advocate; WS: Wine Spectator; VM: Vinous Media; OB: Owen Bargreen;
JD: Jeb Dunnuck; TWI: The Wine Independent
56 |
| 57