96
points
Hartford 2007 Highwire Vineyard Zinfandel (Russian River Valley)
-
$55
The vineyard is in Fulton, a cool part of the southeastern valley heavily influenced by fog, and the vines are about 100 years old. This is great, classic Zinfandel. It should be in a museum. Despite high alcohol, it has a silky, Pinot-esque suppleness, balanced with crisp acids, and is profoundly rich in Zinny flavor. Currants, mushu plum sauce, anise, crushed…
— S.H.
(8/1/2009)
94
points
Hartford 2007 MacLain's Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
-
$60
The vineyard is near Occidental, in the cooler southwestern part of the valley, and you can taste the fog and the sea and crisp nights in the acidity, like biting into a Gravenstein apple. Yet this perfect vintage has resulted in perfect fruit. It’s hard to imagine richer blackberry, cherry and licorice flavors. Impeccable and impressive, but young. Best in the…
— S.H.
(4/1/2010)
94
points
Hartford 2007 Seven's Bench Pinot Noir (Carneros)
-
$60
There’s a sweet fruit and pastry quality to this wine that’s reminiscent of a cherry tart, with its vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon and smoky buttery pie crust flavors. It’s very delicious but also brilliantly structured as a wine, with fine tannins and a sunburst of citrusy acids. One of the best Carneros Pinots of the vintage, it will provide pleasurable drinking…
— S.H.
(4/1/2010)
93
points
Hartford 1999 Laura's Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast)
-
$54
An intensely fragrant floral, ginger, peach, lemon-lime and orange-spice bouquet ushers in this smooth, well-structured wine. The palate shows intricately meshed orange, butterscotch and toasted nut flavors, offset by angular, racy mineral accents. Finishes long and crisp, with refined pineapple, citrus and stony flavors. Enjoyable now but still tight, this should…
— W.E.
(7/1/2001)