Bob McDonald

9.4

Classic notes of left bank Bordeaux. 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. Initially a sweet palate but after a few hours, restrained, balanced and a little dusty and herbaceous. Very fine tannins - totally resolved and seamless. A classy wine - the 2nd wine of a leading First Growth from a good vintage. — 2 years ago

Daniel M

9.3

Cocoa, strawberry, currant, vanilla, tar, cedar, wet forest soil, a lot of things happen. It's showing a bit of age but certainly not as much as the label shows. The palate is showing a strong acid backbone and this is quite striking here. It must be because of the vintage though. Nice strawberry, currant fruit all along, good width with a thin matter which lays a layer of silk all over the mouth. In mid palate come some rather well integrated tannins, bringing in some energy by disrupting slightly that very silky mouthfeel with a dusty touch. The finish is very long with fruit, vanilla, cocoa and maybe even mocha. Perhaps not the best Pichon Lalande but a very good take on a tough vintage which is still relevant and delivering to this day.
29 years old and kicking! We served it along with a slow cooked lamb leg and beans (traditional Easter meal in my region) and this was a perfect match. Celebrating wifey's birthday in style! — 5 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

Chris England

9.4

A new upcoming Chilean icon blend @ £100-£120 that’s becoming a favourite of mine 😍 Did you know they play relaxing music to the wine in the barrel whilst it develops 💗 I reviewed the 2012 a few weeks back 😉 and can’t wait for 2013 to come out! I’ve still not tried their first 2010 release ... yet

📍 Vina VIK 2011

🏵 94 points w/ much more potential 👍

🍇 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Carmenere, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot & 4% Syrah 😍

🍷Opaque blackened ruby

👃 Chocolatey spicy rich blackcurrant & dark plum w/ soft oak, vanilla, blackberry, raspberry, dark cherry, wet leaves, herbs, a hint of purple flower, blueberry & minerals

👄 Full body of rich silky intense but balanced black fruits in oozy melted chocolate & creamy blueberry w/ a raspberry liquorice backbone in fine rock minerals

🎯 Long black fruit, raspberry, touch dry mineral & cocoa linger w/ a lasting purple teeth stain 😁 — 7 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2020 vintage. A single 20 hectares vineyard within the Léoville-Poyferré estate. The name was used for the second wine Léoville-Poyferré, but it became a Saint-Julien in its own right in 2009. The 20 hectares vineyard is planted with an unusually high percentage of Petit Verdot. This 2020 is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 23% Petit Verdot. — 2 years ago

Ken Kasner

9.0

Had on Aug 29, 2021. Little overripe. — 4 years ago

Brett Francis

9.1

This was excellent and rich with cherry cola, hints of vanilla, and a tiny bit of spice. It was a great finisher that went well with the hearty sausage Minestrone followed by a vanilla Bundt cake. — 5 years ago

Steven Comfort

9.1

This was the last bottle from a case I bought in about 1997. Over the 29 years since the wine was made, the noteworthy tar and tobacco notes that Pontet Canet is known for softened to an ashy-ness that is a softer version of a Mouton Rothschild. Still plenty of life left in this outstanding vintage, but the wine won't improve much (if at all) from this point. I enjoyed this bottle with Lucas Comfort, a day after his 29th birthday (1990). — 6 years ago

Jeff Siwik

9.3

This delicious Cabernet Sauvignon is a style that reflects modern Oakville, while still capturing the classic flavors of this stunning winegrowing region. Rich notes of cassis, cherry, and ripe plum are highlighted by flavors of vanilla and spice from the French Oak barrels it was aged in. Medium-bodied with an elegant finish — 7 years ago

David L

9.5

Every single time over the fence. They just don’t miss as of late especially. 2005 &7 rockstars! 12 & beyond I highly recommend. Another crowd pleaser. The 12 has got even better over the last 12/18 months. Another 15 years in it. — 7 years ago

Christian Cook

9.8

Amazing! Temp like red, decant, close your eyes and have a red! — 7 years ago

Kirk F

9.1

Jon Boat strikes again. This is becoming a go to Pinot - I wish now I’d bought several cases @ $29. 🍒 for sure and strawberry pie. Long, polished finish. Delicious. We intended to drink this with dinner but the bottle didn’t make it out of the kitchen 😂 — 8 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.0

Solid wine with dinner. Tasted great with earth and leather but fruit also at forefront. Lovely to not think about much. — 3 years ago

Norman

9.0

It was past it’s prime — 3 years ago

Harold Saunders

9.2

Very drinkable......fruity noise, flavors of Black Currant, Black Cherry & Licorice. — 5 years ago

Robert Rothfield

9.1

Nice spicy, well made zin — 6 years ago

with Warren

Dan Staley

9.2

Great mouthful of heavy tannins. Amazing dark fruit, tobacco and cedar. — 7 years ago

Jordi Pazo

9.0

Vila. Cata Saint Julien. 93,50
62,5% CS, 29% Merlot, 2,5% CF, 6% PV.
11.03.19 — 7 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2016 Long Shadows 'Saggi' is a thrilling blend of Sangiovese (Boushey and Candy Mountain Vineyards) with 29% Cabernet Sauvignon (Weinbau Vineyard) and the remainder Syrah (Den Hoed Dutchman and Bacchus Vineyards). The nose is drop-dead gorgeous with bacon fat, black olive tapenade, mocha and fennel. The stunning range of aromas bring you back to the glass for more. Revealing a silky texture and a wonderfully ripe mouthfeel, this slowly unveils smoked meat, black tea, milk chocolate covered cherry and roasted fig flavors. Decadent, layered and downright delicious, this beautiful wine will enjoy an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 20-9-2033- 95 — 7 years ago

Diederick Swagemakers

9.0

Thanks @Eric Hoepelman ! Ben geen cognac drinker maar toch van genoten👊 — 8 years ago