Bob McDonald

9.5

Light Ruby in colour. A gorgeous nose of dusty red and black cherry with Five spice, decayed plant matter, sous Bois. I could sniff this for hours. Tastes way more youthful than 12 years with a solid core of red and black fruits which is gradually releasing - finishing with silky tannins. A few hours later that earthy red fruited perfume just keeps on giving. Only 2 barrels made, so, about 40 dozen. — 5 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.5

Two hour decant for this 2016. Big ripe fruit up front-blueberry, blackberry, black raspberry, plum. Baking spices. Tannins smooth but strong. Structured well. Nice long finish. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

This is the third time that I’ve had the pleasure of drinking the 2005 Caravina over the last year and it continues to be a stunner. It pours a dark garnet with no color variation however, this bottle was throwing an enormous amount of sediment. The bouquet is powerful with a lovely mix of dark fruits; currants and plums with sweet pipe tobacco, leather, and mushrooms. The palate is decadent with a very forward attack and layer upon layer of fruits, baking spices and earthier secondary characteristics. Finish is dry, long and super satisfying. Impeccable balance. Would be a deft pairing for most hearty meals but a winner on its own. I have to believe these are drinking at or near peak but if this bottle (and the previous two for that matter) is representative, that peak may last for many years to come. Hard to believe this isn’t their Grand Vin. — 6 years ago

Daniel M

9.0

A nice nose full of primary, binary and tertiary scents : black currant, vanilla, toast, blond tobacco, ceddar, leather, a hint of mint, some meat juice and some earthiness, wet soil too. Wow! The palate is delicious : it starts with a radiant black currant, then it goes large with a silky touch on the sides, some meat juice, some gentle tannins wich have perfectly incorporated and a long silky finish with that nice weight and touch which lasts for a very long while. It certainly has a lot of matter and distinction for a vintage which is considered a rather poor one. For less than 20 EUR (retail price) this is quite a bargain! — 7 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. — 7 years ago

Daniel M

9.0

After some 2300 km in the trunk of my car, this is now served (after a much deserved 3 weeks rest in my cellar) at cellar temperature (about 16°C). I'm of course biased but man, this is good for the €€€.

The nose is violet, red forest fruits and that irony thing which might well be a terroir thing (the soil they grew their vines upon are reddish which tells me they could well be full of iron). The palate is well balanced, with a good acid backbone but some matter too and I see some evolution in the way this wine is made as earlier vintages were much thiner and acid driven and here there's acid, yes, but there is sufficient matter and a very nice mouthfeel, and fruit all along to balance it perfectly. Some lively tannins, kicking things up a notch and a rather long finish with fruits, that irony thing and a bit of bitterness which is very much a varietal thing. I love it, but I'm biased 🙃. — 5 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.6

This was absolutely fantastic. Every once in a while, Adam Tolmach and Fabien Castel cull away a few barrels of something for these Special Bottlings. Bought this at the winery a number of years ago, and it is awesome. A totally underrated winery in my opinion, I’d put this version of grenache up against pretty much anything coming out of CA (or southern Rhone, for that matter). Adam used to get criticized years ago because he left his grapes on the vine “too long”, and now he gets grief for picking too early. I think he does it just right. His wines have terrific fruit and great acidity that are perfectly in balance yet provide for fantastic aging potential. Great stuff, with an even better QPR. If you can get your hands on this specific wine, though, do yourself a favor and snag it! — 5 years ago

with Vanessa

Courtney Semlow

9.1

Solid. Goes good with muddy buddies. :) — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is a young wine that I opened last weekend and enjoyed but, had to seal it up and put back into storage until tonight. It’s a touch faded (10%) but, like all young wine, resilient.

The nose reveals, ripe & candied; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, well extracted pomegranate, the blue fruits he does so well and I love in Pinot, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries, beautiful layered baking spices, medium intensity dark spices, steeped fruit tea, red fruit cola, hints of dry crushed rocks, limestone, dark, blue, purple flowers with hints of lavender.

The body is full with a fair amount of tannin presence. Nicely knitted structure, tension, length and balance for such a young Pinot. Ripe & candied; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, well extracted pomegranate, the blue fruits he does so well and I love in Pinot, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, touch of cooked rhubarb, raspberries, beautiful layered baking spices, medium intensity dark spice with shades of palate heat, steeped fruit tea, red fruit cola, saline notes, dry herbs, menthol, eucalyptus, hints of dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, dry & moist clay, limestone, leathery, wood staves, amazing dark, blue, purple flowers with hints of lavender. The acidity is excellent. The ripe, elegant, balanced, polished finish is delicious and persists nicely for minutes.

Paul makes beautiful expressions of Pinot, Rhône styles & Chardonnay. If you have not had them, well worth your time & investment to seek out.

Photos of; his Sierra Madre Vineyard...netted to keep the birds from eating his fruit, fruit near harvest time, my picture meeting Paul for the first time last week weekend at a “Matter of Taste” in Napa last weekend and their barrel room. — 7 years ago

Daniel M

9.0

Discreet nose of garrigue, olive, blackberry, pepper. The palate is very fresh with a splendid balance between a rather strong acid backbone and fruit and matter on the sides. Some tannins to kick things up and a fresh finish with fruit. Very lovely. Definitely the kind of Languedoc stuff I want to sip on regularly. — 7 years ago

David Lincoln

9.8

Nearly perfect. Heavy meat and umami nose. Black fruit and olive tapenade taste notes. More southern Rhône in style than northern. Ultra sexy tannins and utterly integrated in all ways. Tasted with Christophe Baron at Matter of Taste. — 8 years ago

Bret Barker

9.5

I know too young- but it’s so good when it touches your lips! The color is such a deep purple. Red cherry, graphite and I had some vanilla undertones. It wasn’t overly tannic at all. We didn’t have a chance to decant it- didn’t matter smooth as silk out of the gates. — 8 years ago

Wolfgang Kaemmerer

9.2

Excellent every day Riesling. It combines fruit, acid and minerality in an ideal matter. Very good value for the money. — 5 years ago

John Asbury

9.6

Wet stone over honeysuckle flowers and crisp apples make for a nose that really bloomed on the second day. As a matter of fact, with this type of Old-world French appellation, taking 24 hours to fully open is not unusual. This value-conscious Chablis boasted depth and clarity of flavor you’d expect in wines with twice the price tag. We paired it with grilled eggplant and roasted chicken casserole. It was delicious! — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I do like this Polish immigrant’s craft.

The blend of fruits are a broad spectrum of, sour, candied and floral, ruby, mid & dark, red fruits, dark, smooth spice, cinnamon stick, floral heaven & flat out elegance. The blue fruits in Paul’s wines are incredible.

Photos of, two of his Southern California vineyards, Paul Lato at a Matter of Taste during our 40 minute chat & their concrete fermentation eggs. — 6 years ago

Daniel M

9.2

Once again I indulge in this pretty sin... Cherry, almond, Raisin, pencil lead, maybe chocolate too? The palate is tremendous : it goes in every direction with a huge acid backbone, a superlative width, a dense and silky matter with a soft touch on the sides, a bright fruit which shows off all along, a bit of drying tannins that kick off a fantastic finish with fruit, a bit of bitterness, some raisins and a indisputable length. Man I love this one. This is bohemian rhapsody by Queen — 6 years ago

Daniel M

8.9

Black currant, cedar, tar, cigar box, coffee, vanilla. Quite a complex nose. The palate is very concentrated with a strong acid backbone, and some dark and dense matter with black currant and somehow dusty tannins that kick everything up. The finish is very long and very wide with some bitterness popping up, black currant, and a pinch of salt. We paired this baby with a gigantic beef T-bone. Perfect pairing. It's still very young and needs time. Not a 9 because it's still too young — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Even though we brought spilts with us on our trip, I still missed it. There just aren’t many better starters to kickoff a weekend night. Cheers! 🥂

Many previous notes still apply.

The next time you have BSR as an aperitif and your are having red wine after, save some to close out your night. The BSR ascends from 1080p HD to OLED 4K on your palate. For that matter, any quality Champagne will do. — 7 years ago

Raun Kupiec

9.5

Really great stuff. Depth and complexity. Rivals classic burgundies, and barolos for that matter. — 7 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.3

En Magnum
Incredibly gentle, soft, mellow no matter the description the fruit just sings!! — 8 years ago