Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I bought 3 or 4 bottles of the 06 Heitz Napa. I think this is my first bottle. I either have none or one left. Better gets notes tonight! I think I gave others away. What was I thinking? Wine is meant to be shared.

What is better than paying around $33 for a bottle of wine, forgetting about it for twelve years and having it blossom on your palate the way it is tonight? This is a prime example of two things; you don’t need to spend a hundred(s) for a really good bottle of wine and their is absolutely no substitution for appropriate cellaring time.

The nose reveals; steeped, dark fruit wading in fruits of ripe/ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked, black plum & strawberries, hovering raspberries with pomegranate, light liqueur notes. Mild alcohol vapors, black licorice, sweet tarriness, mixed dark fruit cola/licorice, mid, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, saddle-wood, graphite, dark rich souls, forest floor with dry leaves, dry crushed rocks, dry twigs, tree sap, mint/eucalyptus, soft leather, dry tobacco with ruby, brilliant, fresh & withering, candied; dark, red, purple florals with a field of violets.

The body is, rich, ruby and creamy with fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, baked, black plum & strawberries, hovering raspberries with pomegranate that shows light liqueur notes. Mild alcohol vapors, black licorice, dark, steeped, black , assorted fruit teas, sweet tarriness, mixed dark fruit cola/licorice, mid, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla, caramel, mocha, saddle-wood, graphite, savory grilled meats, dark rich souls, forest floor with dry leaves, moist clay & top soil, dry crushed rocks, dry twigs, tree sap, mint/eucalyptus, hints of Provence herbs, soft leather, dry tobacco with ruby, brilliant, fresh & withering, candied; dark, red, purple florals with a field of violets. The acidy is like a cool waterfall on a warm day. The beautiful, elegant, extremely well knitted balance is in the realm of “forget about it”. Sometimes the right wine, when it’s right, moves the entire body. Such as it is tonight.

The tension, structure, length and balance have just hit their high point and will remain there for another five years into a slow decline over the next 10-15 years, stored impeccably.

This might be the best Napa Heitz I’ve bought & stored. It’s stunning and way over delivering its price point. One complex wine!!!

Photos of; Heitz Winery, tasting bar, tasting room garden patio and the Hwy 29 signage for the tasting room with the valley floor vines that surround their tasting room. — 6 years ago

Y Kwon

9.4

Definitely old worldly. Blackberries, blue berries, graphite, crushed stones and plenty of tannins. This will age for a long time. — 8 years ago

Peter 0'Neill

9.2

I was concerned that this was too young and indeed it's absolutely best days are ahead of it but with plenty of air and a good decant it opened up very nicely and showed its class. — 9 years ago

Keith Crump

9.4

2006 plenty of body better after a little breather not the big noise I have noted before with Gruaud Larose but good complex Bordeaux I acknowledge St Julian has its critics but this good wine — 9 years ago

Aaron Meeker

Sales & Marketing Vine Street Imports

9.1

Ripe flavor a but silky texture and still plenty of tannin for the long haul. Enjoyed this bottle a lot. — 10 years ago

Cody Short

9.4

Still fresh, plenty of fruit and drinking at peak — 10 years ago

Ned Clark

9.4

Really smooth and balanced. Plenty of life left but drinking well right now. Don't hold back opening this one. — 10 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.5

Big wine, bold Cab, smooth, plenty of fruit. Truly delicious. — 11 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.7

Still really tight. Dark red purple. Classic cassis notes. Still plenty of time left. 2021 maybe? — 11 years ago

Doug Powers

9.8

Minerality, almost mature Cabernet fruit, balanced, still plenty of structure, very long finish. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

The community of Saint-Estèphe has it roots in the Gallo-Roman origins of this chateau. A blend of 78% Cab Sauv, 20% Merlot & 2% Petit Verdot. Deep Ruby with aromas of dense sweet black fruits with herb and earthy spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry, currant like, with tobacco, tar and hints of vanilla exposing mushroom notes. Well balanced, ripe textured tannins, long finish ending with earthy character. Nice, has plenty of room to develop. — 6 years ago

Mike Evans

9.2

Showing very well and much younger than expected, currant with a dash of bell pepper and a dollop of leather, there is still quite a bit going on here and plenty of life left. — 7 years ago

Pete Talala

9.4

In great shape now and plenty of life left! Mother’s Day 2018. — 7 years ago

Jared Elder II

9.1

Great wine in our room having some wine and cheese for dinner. It was a great buy and really hit the spot. I think this will be a trip of “risk and reward”. So what is the price point and how good is it???? This is a really nice wine. Would have it again for sure. — 8 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.4

Steak & claret Friday is back. This bottle was more evidence for my theory that wine always shows best once it sells out. Dark fruit, savory tertiary character and plenty of sweet life in this "for steak only" northern Medoc. Hats off to the butchers at Draeger's... I don't know what that "cowboy" steak was, but it sure was good! — 9 years ago

Evelyn Marin

9.4

Drinking well at 11 years out with plenty of life left. Held it's own and then some when put up against a 2002 Shafer Hillside. — 10 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.2

Typical (as in excellent) GR Imperial nose, elegant red fruits, sauve oak, perfectly integrated. Mouthfeel is young and firm, yet what relents is a wonderful hint at the future of what this wine will give. Plenty to appreciate now but I think it will indeed only gain in complexity and only get better if you have the patience. A long, firm, persistently energizing and pleasant finish. — 10 years ago

Matthew Beckman

9.3

Lovely nose of cherry and tobacco...plenty of time left for this but approachable now. My wine of the night — 10 years ago

Joel Tan

9.0

Musky tones, just amazing smell. Lighter on the palate, sappy and still plenty of acidity perfect for all the meats at dinner — 11 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.8

Effortless claret, light to medium bodied, with delicate black currant fruit that soared with Doug's fabulous tri-tip. Not for score lovers, this wine has plenty of herbal intrigue for the table and no extra fat. — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It is really not fair to have their 06 after their 09. It’s good but, all you can think about is the 09.

The nose reveals, slightly stewed to cooked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and bright cherries. Steeped tea, limestone, licorice, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry tobacco, soft, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, dry stems, dry top soil, understated baking spices, light graphite, dry herbs, light, dark spice and withering red & dark florals.

The body is lean, not quite full. The structure, tension, length and and balance are just ok to good and reveal the shortcomings of the 06 vintage. slightly stewed to cooked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and bright cherries. Steeped tea, limestone, licorice, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry tobacco, soft, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, dry stems, dry top soil, understated baking spices, some v/a or bandaid, light graphite, dry herbs, light, dark spice with some heat across the palate and withering red & dark florals. The finish is nice and elegant but, lack the fullness and beauty of most really good vintage Palmer’s. It finishes with nice persistent dark spice on the long set. Just give me another taste of the 09. 😜

Photos of; Chateau Palmer, their barrel room, a photo of their vineyard soil structure-if you didn’t know where all that earthiness comes from, a picture is worth a thousand words and their tasting room. — 6 years ago

Matt

9.5

Love where this is, plenty of muscle without the unnecessary sinew that it had in its youth. Despite the array of fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, and earth this had, its most defining feature to me was the stony imprint it had across the palate. Can’t wait to revisit! — 7 years ago

Sage Shimoda

9.4

Dominus Estate Christian Moueix
Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend
1997

After 21 years, this wine still has plenty of good dark fruits left and is still going strong with more life ahead. After pouring into our glasses, the strength of the wine has calmed down, and we can see how elegant this wine is. This one is for a special occasion.

21年を感じさせない力強さ。グラスに注いでからは時間とともに落ち着いてきて、何ともエレガントなワインでした。特別な時に開けたいですね。

#Dominus #1997 #redwine #wine #赤ワイン #California #Napa
— 7 years ago

Paul Barnes

9.5

Aussie screwcap FTW - this is legit. Plenty of Syrah notes for only 8% of the blend. — 9 years ago

Charles (Chad) Bucklin

Owner and founder of C. T. Bucklin Wine Advising

9.1

Great complexity and intensity. The lack of acidity makes this #sauternes a touch cloying. Plenty of life left. #chateaurieussec #bordeaux #ctbucklinwine — 9 years ago

Charlie Abbott

Sommelier Casa Mono

8.9

The QPR here is insane. Enjoyable now, plenty of cranberry, black peppercorn, green tobacco and pencil lead, but clearly age worthy also. Curious as to why this hasn't been snapped up by everyone yet — 10 years ago

Giancarlo Cicero

9.5

Is actually the Capo. Plenty of life left. Sweet tannin to start. Meaty and juicy. Great. — 10 years ago

with Heath

Joe Rice

9.1

By the glass at the winery. Dark fruit, not stewed, plenty of oak spice, even more to the forefront than the 890. A bit more time to integrate. — 10 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.0

Young and tense with minimul oak. A nice, pleaurable zin with plenty of acidity and balanced body. The fruit is ripe, but clean and pleasant. — 11 years ago

Andrew Z. Scharf

9.7

Lots of room to run still for this gigantic wine. Immortal. — 11 years ago