Review: Wines of William Hill, 2017 Releases
Three new wines from William Hill, all part of the winery’s Coastal Collection, which is its entry-level lineup. All three hail from the North Coast appellation, which covers a vast area that spans the bulk of northern California.
2016 William Hill Sauvignon Blanc North Coast – Big ammonia notes lead the way with this highly aromatic and rather typical California sauvignon blanc, which melds gooey fruit with astringent minerality, somehow concluding on some oddball milk chocolate notes. B- / $13
2015 William Hill Chardonnay North Coast – Full bodied, with an immediate rush of cantaloupe and honeydew melon, this is a bit unusual at the start, before finding its way to more traditional vanilla and toasty oak notes. The wood feels a bit forced — I’m thinking chips, not barrels — which gives the finish some astringency. So-so. B- / $17
2015 William Hill Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast – An unusual cab, this wine displays intense vanilla and chocolate notes which manage to completely overwhelm any red (or black) fruit notes hidden within. The result is akin to sipping on chocolate syrup, filtered through just the slightest haze of strawberry jam. Extremely sweet, with no structure to speak of whatsoever. C- / $19
2016 William Hill Sauvignon Blanc North Coast
$13
