Mark Rosse

9.2

Great cork. A bit of a let down after the Fonsalette. — 5 months ago

romo

9.1

A bit hot with everything elevated. — 6 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium Ruby with quite wide garnet rim. More truffle , tobacco , violet , cassis and earthy notes. Takes a bit of time to get going and certainly shows a bit more age than the 2009. On the palate, more austere with dryer tannin than the 2009 , but very well balanced and classic in style . Cassis, blackcurrant , tobacco graphite notes . Some dry spices too . Quite fresh acidity , and slightly gritty tannin. Long , saline, graphite tinged finish. This is showing some development , but will improve further over the next 5 possibly 10 years and hold well a further 5-10 — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured. The 2021 “Cuvée Réservée” pours a deep ruby color with a deep but transparent core; medium+ viscosity and moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe red and black brambles, spiced meat, black pepper, some purple flowers and stony minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This comes across lighter and more Burgundian than the last handful of vintages; almost giving me some 2014 vibes (which is a vintage in the last decade that I adore). It’s really good and shows a bit more elegance that I quite like. Looking forward to tracking this vintage as time goes on. Drink now with some patience and should be cracking through 2041 with ease. — a year ago

Michael Phillips

9.5

Deep amber with burnt orange and somewhat Smokey nose lovely but a bit past prime — 5 years ago

Jay Root

9.1

Quite nice after breathing for a bit. Quality Smokey California cab — 6 years ago

Adam Gauthier

9.0

Very subtle, good raspberry flavor with some tart dark cherry. I would have wanted a little bit more complexity. — 7 years ago

Eric

9.1

Super complex nose with figs, olive juice, roasted dark nuts, funk, and black licorice. Following that is a bit of a let down. Palate starts strong with dark fruit and charred earth but the watery finish (that I feel like is a vintage thing) leaves me hangin. Doubtful more time will help. Still a good showing. — 8 years ago

Sean Trapani

Founder/Educator Wine Fluent, Consultant ABC Fine Wines & Spirits

8.9

Elegant and structurally balanced, but I wish there was a bit more concentration and longer finish. — 9 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

9.1

A bit of oxidation, but otherwise, just fine. Fruit still there. 1970, 45 year old wine for our 45th Anniversary. — 10 years ago

Ming L

9.3

Quite approachable at this young age. 30 minutes decant and it’s open for business. Aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, sweet spices, cocoa, and lightly roasted nuts. The depth of flavors and elegant medium to full body show the pedigree. If blinded, I would not be able to tell this is a Sangiovese dominant blend. Would prefer a bit more acidity. But who am I to complain. — 5 months ago

Bryn and Tanya

8.9

Still a bit too young. I’ll keep the other bottle tucked away for maybe two or three years. — 6 months ago

Paul J

9.5

1hr+ decant. Dark red color with subtle purple rims. Super complex nose and wine, so not even going to try and describe. Has a little bit of everything all summed up by awesome! Distinct on its own. — 10 months ago

with Brooke

Adam Kincaid

8.9

This will please some garnacha fans, though I can’t say it’s my ideal Reserva blend. 78% Tempranillo and 22% garnancha, which seems like way too much. Has a sweaty sock aroma that blends with some cherry and vanilla flavors. Almost like a tart cherry pie. The cherry flavors continue throughout with some chocolate and a bit of caramel. Round and silky, and seems loosely structured. Just slightly less dimensional than I would want. — 2 years ago

with Jillian

Conrad Green

9.4

A slightly saline iodine note. Tangy blue fruit with sour cherry, leather, tobacco. The fruit and structure are intense . A little bit simple but delicious and authentic. — 5 years ago

with Bex and Naoko

Mike Saviage

9.4

Dark ruby, bright, doesn’t look it’s age. Awesome funky old Cal Cab nose. Notes of cherry, cranberry sauce, dirt and some balsa wood. Some steminess. Great perfume. Nice in the mouth but missing just a little bit in the mid palate. Really enjoyed this. — 6 years ago

Mike Dougherty

9.0

Probably opened it a bit too late. — 7 years ago

Omar Abdeen

9.0

It's a bit sweet for me but it's fantastic and smooth ~~ — 8 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.2

First night dark cherry and a bit too acidic. Second night balances out with layers of character... Spent more time smelling than sipping. So glad to get this piece of quintessential California in Hong Kong. 2012. — 9 years ago

Mitja Sirk

Production La Subida, Aceto Sirk

9.0

Missing a bit of focus and elegance.. Maybe was just the strongest of the night.. — 10 years ago

with Marta

Shay A

9.5

After missing a ‘70s and ‘80s Heitz vertical many years ago, I vowed to seek out a bottle as all the comments from the tasting were astoundingly positive. My last bottle of Heitz Martha’s was the ‘01 (which was great) a few years ago, but at 46yrs, this was quite the experience.

The ‘78 has a bit of a legendary status, so expectations were high. Upon opening, the cork was in good shape (sigh of relief) and the color was unbelievably dark ruby with some bricking (another sigh of relief). The singular signature menthol/eucalyptus began to fill the glass, alongside aromatics of red berry fruits, espresso, some sort of sweet brown sugar/caramel note, and a savory-graphite type note too. Beautifully elegant on the palate with more red fruit, herbs (bay leaf?), and even some pipe tobacco (subdued, not in your face), but it sports the classical old Napa cab profile that is pure. Spectacular wine, and I could simply smell the wine all day…the aromatics were so powerful the entire time.

Open in bottle for three hours and powered through the entire time. Wish I had another so I could have the same experience! — 5 months ago

John Malcolm

9.2

Beautiful wine. Slightly prefer the 1999, which I had last night. The ‘99 was musty and tasted lots of mushrooms. The ‘01 is still earthy, but fruitier. Dark fruits, with a bit of tobacco and cedar. — 9 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium deep ruby , medium wide ruby rim . A bit more mineral , oyster shell, and dark cassis on the nose , wood spice touches . On the palate quite mineral and dark fruit focused , blackcurrant , cassis . Good focus on the palate , saline with good acidity and grippy but ripe tannins . Promising , though needs time , better in 10 years and will last a further 10-15 . — a year ago

Conrad Green

9.0

Slight marmalade, hints of honey. A bit like aged Chenin in character. Still fresh but a little tangy. Fleshed out — 3 years ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

E & K G

9.1

A bit disjointed and not the balanced velvet powerhouse I remember when I had the 2003 vintage. — 6 years ago

Joel Neal

9.3

Fruit is still surprisingly present for 13 years in the bottle. Oak, med tannins, a bit of earthy spice. Good vintage. Most Iso are a bit past prime at 13 years, this could go a while longer. — 7 years ago

Randall Brater

8.9

Light with hints of tart and sharp raspberries. Just a little bit of earth. Ok, better with food and cheese than by itself. — 7 years ago

Peter 0'Neill

8.9

Bought on a bit of a whim, this was perfectly fine without a real wow factor. A quite lovely nose of beef stock, strawberry jam and roses, but the palate was undistinguished and acidity overwhelmed any initial fruit. Food is a must and even then it's a bit awkward. — 9 years ago

Guy Davies

9.6

Really classy nose, almond and fennel and gentle yeastiness underneath. Very young, lovely texture but closed on the palate. Finish clean and very long, this will be an absolute cracker with a bit of time — 10 years ago

Paul Kaan

Winemaker/Blogger FilthyGoodVino.com

9.6

It's Bordeaux O'Clock. 81 Palmer oppulent, refined texture, fresh, layered & yummy! A bit of extra Pre-Parker finesse perhaps? #FilthyOldVino — 11 years ago