Chalk Hill Estate Red 2014
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Wong
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Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
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Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
A substantial red with excellent finesse, the black-fruited 2014 Chalk Hill Estate Red deftly shows berries, earth, and spice. The wine's smooth and layered texture pair it well with an herb-crusted tri-tip.(Tasted: November 16, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Blended of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Malbec, 16% Petit Verdot, 8% Merlot and 5% Syrah, the 2014 Estate Red has a deep garnet-purple color and notes of blackberry preserves, crème de cassis and cedar with touches of baking spices, vanilla pod, dark chocolate and Mediterranean herbs. Full bodied, concentrated and generously fruited, it has firm, ripe, velvety tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long with the oak poking through. Afford it another 2-3 years in bottle and enjoy it over the next 15+ years.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is made largely from Cabernet Sauvignon, incorporating Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Syrah. Thick, rich and lush, it shows dense layers of black currant, blackberry, meat, licorice and cedar. It finishes rounded and dripping in chocolate.
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Wine & Spirits
A blend of cabernet, malbec, petit verdot, merlot and syrah, this might be inky and tannic, but it’s also pretty fresh, with a sweet anise note lifting its dark berry fruit. It feels a bit astringent at first, but the structure turns soft and loamy with air—decant it for grilled pork sausages.
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Wine Spectator
Elegantly rustic, with savory herb and dusty earth accents amid loamy dark berry, cedar and sage flavors. Finishes strong if a little diffuse, yet the layers of complexity are evident. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Syrah. Drink now through 2029.
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Perhaps no other winery captures the casual luxury of Sonoma County better than Chalk Hill Estate. Founded nearly four decades ago, this spectacular 1300-acre property features 300 acres of vineyards, wilderness areas, winery, hospitality center, culinary garden, residence, stables, equestrian pavilion, sports fields, fishing and swimming ponds, and guest houses.
The winery's vineyards are thoughtfully woven through the native foliage and contoured to fit the intricate terrain. More than two-thirds of the Chalk Hill Estate remains uncultivated. The higher elevations offer stunning views of the Russian River Valley to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
A Sonoma sub-appellation whose boundaries cover the northeastern corner of the Russian River Valley AVA, the Chalk Hill growing area is named after its unique chalky and white, volcanic ash soils. This terrain has proven successful with white varieties, namely Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc.