The 2023 Barrel Blend has beautiful aromas of apricot, pear, honeysuckle and orange meringue pie. On the palate, an initial roundness is balanced by natural acidity along with a hint of oak that merges with flavors of stone fruit and apple. The multiple layers, intriguing character and long finish has this wine screaming to be paired with Thai food, grilled chicken or fish tacos.
2023 marks the inaugural production of a white wine produced under the Barrel Blend label, which is in the Hill Family Estate portfolio of wines. With bounteous crops and excellent weather, we were able to preserve the acidity and freshness of our white varieties. During blending sessions this combination came out a winner, pleasing everyone with the zippy acidity of the Albarino and the rich fruit from our Chardonnay sites. Lovely aromatics from Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Viognier, and Semillon completed the blend and made it worthy of the surfing talent of Moana Jones Wong, who is featured on the label riding an epic wave at the famed Pipeline surf break in Oahu!
Specs
Vintage: 2023
Composition: 61% Chardonnay, 15% Albarino, 14% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Muscat Canelli, 3% Viognier and 2% Semillon
Appellation: Napa Valley
Cooperage: 9 months in 62% in neutral French oak barrels and 38% in stainless steel barrels
Bottling date: July 17, 2024
Release date: July 2024
Alcohol: 14.58%
TA: 7.0
pH: 3.43
Production: 969 cases
What’s Included
6-bottles:
6x - 2023 Hill Family Estate Barrel Blend White Wine
Case:
12x - 2023 Hill Family Estate Barrel Blend White Wine
Hill Family Estate was born out of the desire for a family to work together. Third-generation farmer Doug Hill grew prunes and apples along the Russian River before moving to the Napa Valley in the 1970s to manage vineyards. During the 1980s and 1990s Doug began acquiring vineyards of his own as well as leasing land and has now grown grapes for more than forty prominent wineries including Silver Oak, Far Niente, Quintessa and Cakebread to name a few.
After nearly four decades of farming, Doug and his family decided to enter the winemaking business, and in 2001 Hill Family Estate was born. Doug farms the grapes and helps craft the wine while his son Ryan runs the sales division, working hard to get Hill Family Estate wines placed in select accounts throughout the country.
Today the Hill Family owns 120 acres of vineyards with a focus on Atlas Peak, Carneros and Oak Knoll. They are 100% family-farmed, family-owned and family-operated – growing fruit for Napa wineries as well as their own wines.
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
I live on the Oregon Coast in a town that is filled with older surfers and surfers who come from everywhere just to enjoy the waves. I see surfers every morning no matter what the waves look like, just to be in their wetsuits enjoying the water.
I received this bottle and read the story and saw the waves on the bottle and said to myself, this is perfect for me.
Now onto to the wine. The color of the wine is the inside of a daisy, pale yellow. The smell was pure Viognier. It was amazing how the smell and the taste differed, but not in a bad way. The Viognier came out in the smell, but the taste was a jolly rancher apple candy, in a good way. The taste was sweet/sour/ apple/lychee/almond. The taste lingered and the finish was lingering. We had this wine the first night with our favorite take out halibut fish and chips. The second night with a Caesar salad. Both were good, although the wine went better with the fish and chips vs the creaminess of the Caesar dressing. This was a surprising wine as it did not taste like it smelled. Day 2 brought out more of the Chardonnay and less green apple. I preferred day 1 over day 2. It is a screw top and would be great at any summer gathering where tart is needed. Thank you Casemates for a surprising wine. I am still thinking about this wine, which is well, surprising.
Suckling:
91 points. Fresh citrusy nose with sliced apples, savory herbs, raw almonds and crushed stones. Medium- to full-bodied with juicy acidity and a concentrated core of fruit. Rich, but tangy and bright. Drink now. Screw cap.April 2025
The Wine Independent, Lisa Perrotti-Brown’s publication. 91 points in March 2025 with the notes behind a paywall.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2023 Hill Family Estate Barrel Blend White - $30 = 17.64%
Hill Family Estate Barrel Blend White
2023 Hill Family Estate Barrel Blend White Wine
91 Points - JamesSuckling.com
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$300.00/case
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Aug 10 - Tuesday, Aug 11
2023 Hill Family Estate Barrel Blend White
6 bottles for $84.99 $14.17/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $139.99 $11.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
I live on the Oregon Coast in a town that is filled with older surfers and surfers who come from everywhere just to enjoy the waves. I see surfers every morning no matter what the waves look like, just to be in their wetsuits enjoying the water.
I received this bottle and read the story and saw the waves on the bottle and said to myself, this is perfect for me.
Now onto to the wine. The color of the wine is the inside of a daisy, pale yellow. The smell was pure Viognier. It was amazing how the smell and the taste differed, but not in a bad way. The Viognier came out in the smell, but the taste was a jolly rancher apple candy, in a good way. The taste was sweet/sour/ apple/lychee/almond. The taste lingered and the finish was lingering. We had this wine the first night with our favorite take out halibut fish and chips. The second night with a Caesar salad. Both were good, although the wine went better with the fish and chips vs the creaminess of the Caesar dressing. This was a surprising wine as it did not taste like it smelled. Day 2 brought out more of the Chardonnay and less green apple. I preferred day 1 over day 2. It is a screw top and would be great at any summer gathering where tart is needed. Thank you Casemates for a surprising wine. I am still thinking about this wine, which is well, surprising.
@danandlisa thanks for the great post. sounds like a cool town.
Suckling:
91 points. Fresh citrusy nose with sliced apples, savory herbs, raw almonds and crushed stones. Medium- to full-bodied with juicy acidity and a concentrated core of fruit. Rich, but tangy and bright. Drink now. Screw cap.April 2025
The Wine Independent, Lisa Perrotti-Brown’s publication. 91 points in March 2025 with the notes behind a paywall.
fwiw
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2023 Hill Family Estate Barrel Blend White - $30 = 17.64%