Tasted blind. Deep purple color. Looks very young, compared to the 45 Margaux next to it. Almost opaque. Notes of black fruit, cracked walnuts, sweet fruit, raspberry and some cedar desk. Super rich in the mouth. Seems young and is firm, but tannins are softened and the mouthfeel is velvet touch. Long finish. It peacocks all night. The walnuts thing leads my guess to Latour, but can this be the 45? Is it a 61 or 82? Could be... I go with it being a 59 given how young it seems. Just an amazing bottle of wine, open for ~9 hours by the time we left, it seemed to effortlessly power along. Thanks Stan! — 2 years ago
Needs more time in bottle or just more time in decanter. But on it way to greatness blue and black fruit, notes of vanilla , lots of tannin beautiful with short ribs! — 4 years ago
This Petite Sirah from Lodi is always enjoyable. Big and bold, spicy and tangy.
Good by itself or with food. Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up and shows some tannins.
Showing black fruits, chocolates, coffee, wood, vanilla, licorice, mocha, caramel and peppercorn.
Full bodied with a nice finish. Might be a little sweet for some.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
89 points. — 5 years ago
Pristine cork, decanted for 5 hours: still balanced, complex, and harmonious as a 20 year old in a challenging vintage. Fruit still lively, with mellow tannins—this still has a few years left. Came out best for me in an evening of great old wines: ‘98 Corison, ‘98 Montelena Estate, plus de la Tour ‘99. Never underestimate the consistency of a great estate, year after year. Glad I have another bottle or two. — 6 years ago
A bit closed on the nose and still some alcoholic heat which proves that additional cellaring is needed. Besides that a fantastic wine. Quite some acidity which surprised me for a Napa wine. If you have this wine I would keep it at least another year or two before opening it — 10 months ago
Great for an Aperol Spritz or neat in a glass. — 2 years ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Celebrating our wedding anniversary, with a Vintage Champagne from the same year.
Light yellow in color with a golden hue.
Strong nose of bread, spices, earth, wet leaves, herbs, yeast, white pepper, lemons, yellow apples and river rocks.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity and soft, small bubbles.
Dry on the palate with light citrus, over ripen apples, spices, yeast, bread, river rocks, herbs and white pepper.
Short finish with limes.
This 28 year old Champagne is still delicious, although probably on its last leg.
Showing great complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Soft and elegant.
Not much fruit is left, but enough to make it tangy and interesting.
Thank you Judy for sharing this with us.
Good by itself or with food. I paired it with caviar and good friends. Very tasty, especially with the caviar.
12% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$550. — 3 years ago
Young and vegetal but strong red and black fruit. All of the wine is in the front and in you face. Should have decanted long or waited 5 years. — 4 years ago
2021 well balanced acid fruit slight pepper. Dry. Great nose dark Cherry. Easy going down. $26 at Mannys — 7 months ago
Columbia county 2.0: end of a meal, nightcap of sorts. So so perfumed with dill & vanilla & tree sap, as if Willy Wonka decided to get into winemaking. Really just lived for a while breathing this in. On palate it’s remarkably agile & light, even though the body of red fruits is firmly medium boned. No signs of decay or slowing down- even the cork was perfect-easily can go on another several decades ( it feels). God what a treat. — a year ago
These age so wonderfully. Brilliant Cab fragrance. Smooth Tannins but distinctive. Perfect with steak on the grill or by itself. May 2021. — 3 years ago
When in doubt, a sure bet is a well aged, good vintage Heitz. @Eric Shanks
I intended to grab an 06 but, mistakenly grabbed an 07. I’ve not had one of my 06’s yet...next weekend.
The one thing I do every time I open one of my ten year or older Heitz Napa Cabernet’s is smile & think, this was sub $35 at Costco. It’s the wine feeling/definition of stealing candy from babies.
The nose is a beautiful harmony of fruit, earth and florals. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, dark spices with violets palate heat, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay, understated herbs & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, some sage & bay leaf, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is splendid. The long, ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well crafted balance of fruit & earth is delicious and persists endlessly with a dark spice on the long set.
The body is; delightful, ripe, rich, lush & full. The structure, tension, length and balance are woven in a perfect tapestry. This 07 has another 10-15 years easily. The tannins are rounded, smooth but, still have a dark, chewy, tarriness with baby teeth. The beauty of the vintage is on full display. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied ; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is perfect. The finish is; rich, ripe, ruby, candied, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and long sets into velvety, round tannins and mid dark spices.
Photos of; the winery, tasting patio, old basket press and wide shot of the winery & Estate vines. — 4 years ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
2005 vintage. Decanted and tasted immediately and through 3 hours. Great fill/appropriate aging cork. Medium sed. Noticeably dark color. Any trace of the usual Cos baby fat for the first decade+ after release long gone geek. Interesting. This was a lean, mean, street-fighting machine with "minerality" to spare. Intense. Compact. Unsure if it will continue to menace in the next decade of life or retreat into a reclusive, "turtling" period. Best guess? Street-fighter par excellence. Regardless of taking the high or low road, it's not devolving into a drink 'em if you got 'em any time soon scenario. Thanksgiving 11.23.23. — 7 months ago