Andrew Cullimore

9.4

No formal notes ….Medium straw colour . Quite intense slightly smoky lemon peel , flinty , oyster shell nose . On the palate quite surprising intensity and excellent length , refreshing acidity . Nice yellow fruits and roundness allied to great freshness . Drinking surprisingly well , though better in 5-10 years and should hold for a further 5-10. — 2 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Last week was a combo of 4th Friday and Open That Bottle Night on back to back nights. Needless to say, the lineup between both days was full of heavy hitters, so I’m only posting standout bottles.

This was slow oxed for a few hours before the event. I was fortunate to try this a couple times throughout the evening. Monster stuff that is only getting better. Aromatics of dark cocoa, mocha, bayleaf, cedar, currant, underripe blackberries and raspberries. Built like a tank on the palate...big structure sporting notes of leather, herbs de Provence, grilled black cherries, plum, mulberries, graphite, and a tannic finish. If you can decant for half a day, go for it. Otherwise, hold on and enjoy the fireworks in 5-7yrs. Thanks for bringing @Jid R . — 5 years ago

with Jid

Jay Kline

9.3

I simply love this expression of Clos des Papes. It’s so fresh and pure with abundant red fruit and a healthy hillside of garrigue. So much tension. Just lovely. Why hold when you can drink these beauties right now. — 7 years ago

Christophe Aebi

9.4

Build on acidity and leather, this has wonderful length. Colour is slightly turbid though, like the 1994. The tannins are beautifully mouth-coating, will hold forever! — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.1

Decent drinking PB in a difficult vintage. Black currant & red berry fruit with a slight austere style showing, earth, cedar, leather & graphite. Med bodied that is fully mature & should hold for a number of years. — 7 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.5

Pure insanity for the price, as usual. One of the most elegant and pure expressions of Rioja terroir one can imagine, in the mature & somewhat oxidative style that suggests balsamic reduction. Cherries, strawberries, leather, herbs and tobacco all seamlessly integrated. There is a savory earth component throughout the experience that I literally cannot put down every time I taste the Tondonia Reserva. I continue to be stunned at the value of these great Riojas. Find the 2005 vintage, drink now or hold for several years. — 8 years ago

Lee Lightfoot

9.5

Fully resolved but can still hold on another decade. Truly stunning. — 8 years ago

Raun Kupiec

9.3

I love this wine, for me it hits all the notes, balanced, acidity, fruit, depth, interesting tannins that can hold up to salty food. Would like to try this vintage in a few years. — 2 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.3

Surprisingly rich and luscious tonight. Enough structure and weight to hold up to really great red-tablecloth Italian. Round, resolved, no noticeable tannins... great dark fruited balance (cherry/blackberry). I think wines from Rhys need serious time... this often dissed 2011 vintage is drinking very well at 9 yrs of age. Creates a problem as I was poised to order fewer. Argh... — 4 years ago

Daniel Steilen

9.0

Great. light to medium bodied red fruits, aromatic, a bit carbonic. hold a few years — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

There is nothing like taking a $31 bottle of Napa Cabernet and turning it into liquid gold. All you have to do is buy a good producer’s decent vintage or better and hold it in bottle for nearly 10 years or longer. Bottle age can’t be accomplished in a decanter, no matter how long you decant it. It simply will not round out the wine, make the tannins well resolved, integrate all the flavors that equate to a nice complex wine.

I was saddened to see a quality Napa Valley Pioneer recently sell its winery. I am sure somewhere Joe Heitz is beside himself. However, nothing stands for forever. We’ll see what the new owners do with it. Certainly, the last free quality free tasting in Napa Valley is gone forever. To be continued...

The nose reveals; dark currants, ripe, ruby, slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, blueberries and cherry kirsch. Sweet tarry notes, black, rich, turned soil, anise, steep fruit tea, limestone minerals, dry crushed rock, underbrush, soft leather, hints of dry herbs, moist clay with candied, bright, dark, red, blue florals and violets for days.

The body is full, very round and gorgeous across the palate. The tannins are about 80% resolved but, still showing some teeth. The structure, tension, length and balance have hit the top of the bell curve and will hold there awhile longer. There is nothing in this wine that bites back or is astringent. Dark currants, ripe, ruby, slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, blueberries, raspberries on the high palate and long set with cherry kirsch. Sweet tarry notes, black, rich, turned soil, anise, steep fruit tea, caramel, some milk chocolate, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, underbrush, soft leather, touch of graphite, hints of dry herbs, moist clay with amazing candied, bright, dark, red, blue florals and violets for days. The acidity is like a palate waterfall. The long finish is; delicious, gorgeous, ruby, well balanced, elegant with polish that persists nicely for minutes.

Photos of; Heitz vineyard, tasting bar/room on Hwy 29, sitting area outside the tasting room and Heitz winery and Estate vines. — 6 years ago

Raj Harb

9.3

First of 3 of these. Structured and mineral. Hold for a while. — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Beautiful expression of Unico, showing complex aromatics, both elegant & floral This btl is consistent with previous btls, fully mature & should hold for many years. — 8 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.5

Full bodied, dark and inky. Nice spicy and floral aromas. Very luxurious mouthfeel. Dark fruit, graphite, cardamom, roasted coffee beans. In compartment to other 2016 Napa Cabs I’ve tried of this dignity I would hold on to this a few more years if I could. — 3 years ago

Eric

9.4

Beautifully balanced St. Julien with a solid backbone laced with violets. Enough structure to hold for 10+ years. I decanted for an hour and it wasn’t long enough. — 5 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.4

Very good right now (Nov 2019) but will definitely improve over the next few years. Still a bit tannic but explosive black and blue fruit aromas and flavors along with mint, and earthy flavors. I'd hold for another year or two but no rush in drinking. — 6 years ago

Paul K

9.4

@Ryan Mullins and @Jeff Loo are spot on. This needs 10 years. I double aerated back into bottle for 12 hour corked decant and after two hours open in glass this is still closed. You can still taste the potential though. There is a density and purity of fruit behind it that I’m excited to open up one day. Was still a great experience. 94 for now. Will hold remaining bottles for at least 5 years. Please yell at me if u see another post of this wine before then. — 6 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.2

2004 is a power vintage for Brunello. Terrific underlying material. I will hold mine for another ~5 years. — 7 years ago

Jeff Loo

9.3

Exotic American oak but complemented well with red fruit, spice and a kiss of oak. Drinking very well today, decanted for 45 minutes, did the trick. Will hold for easily another 20 years, no problem but so delicious now. — 8 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.4

I know, I know. Too early. I couldn't hold out any longer. BUT. This. Is. Awesome. Oozing plenty of goodness with mushroom, barnyard, and bacon fat. Oh the bacon fat. If you want a fruit-forward, uninteresting Syrah, well...ok. This isn't for you. But if you have some game or are willing to lugnut up and try a real Syrah, uncork this beauty. And this beauty can easily go 10 more years without breaking a sweat. — 8 years ago