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. — 5 years ago

Kyle Groombridge

9.1

Mmm nothing like some delish Txakoli on an abnormally hot day in October in Texas. Signature high acid, lovely aromatics of key lime, peach skin, and minerals. Refreshing as all get out, I love the slight fizzante and slightly off-dry mineral-laden finish. This should be a go-to no matter where you are, especially if you find yourself in the lone star state. — 7 years ago

Oliver Brown

8.9

I think ball bag birr(!), is a wine innuendo too far for a classy wine producer. However, Château Potensac, does intrinsically have a certain 'potency' and 'hardihood' to it.

Many say 2003 is oft-over extracted. With much already passed its peak even, by the very nature of the year's excessive heat. But I found this bottle to be in a good (midlife) state. With the vintage's, most criticised, low acidity, still lively... a solid backbone as such, very much still on display; for many a fine wine for that matter, especially a Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel.

Its primary and secondary aromas are very much alive too and its tertiary ones just hinting at what hands they will ultimately show. It benefitted from a good 1/2 hour decant too #wine — 8 years ago

Daniel March

9.3

A Clio is not for the faint of heart. If you are a six shooter, this is a shotgun. Heavily extracted, big oak, sweet flavors of cherry, vanilla, licorice, blueberry, with mild heat on the nose. It almost doesn't matter, this wine just has a presence. The beauty is that the mouth feel is not overwhelming, it's rich but still lively, the acidity keeps it fresh. The finish is long lasting, leaving a wonderful chalkiness that leaves me licking my lips for the next sip. This wine had shut down for a while, but boy is it back. — 8 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.0

Anti-fruit. Organic matter, spices, and all that. — 9 years ago

Jiri Placek

9.0

Continues developing nicely, now reminds me like biting into a really ripe apple, a quite complex one for that matter. Ready nice wine — 9 years ago

Tom Riley

9.2

Twelve years in and this wine is so damn perky. Let me get back to you in another hour. Maybe it will be a tad less exuberant and a bit more relaxed. No matter what happens it's still gonna be delicious. These folks are so delightfully reliable. 13.0 abv — 10 years ago

Nate Rose

Wine Director Specs

8.9

Come on. Watch out for this one. 2011 Cabernet — 10 years ago

Michelle Moser

9.8

In this case size does matter... Huge! Big chocolate and chewy with tar, flowers and loaded with licorice. Silky tannins. Guests who chose to drink the white wine...well they will remember the meal... For those who selected the Barolo... Well the food was negated as nothing at the party was more opulent than this! Fantastic! — 11 years ago

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. — 5 years ago

Raun Kupiec

9.5

Really great stuff. Depth and complexity. Rivals classic burgundies, and barolos for that matter. — 6 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. — 6 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.1

No matter how many times I have this wines, I'm always impressed and always surprised — 8 years ago

with Matthew and David

Norman Gennaro

9.7

Sine Qua Non tasting at Matter of Taste — 8 years ago

with Jay

Ryan Brazell

Rise Over Run

9.6

Was once again scolded by my spouse for only ever wanting white wine, no matter what we're having for dinner. Was vindicated by serving this wine with hanger steak and chimichurri, and it "worked". She swooned and deemed me heroic, so I declined to mention that I only picked it because we're out of Muscadet, which is what I was really in the mood for. — 8 years ago

Will Clinton

9.0

Fantastic with grilled oysters...or any seafood for that matter — 9 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.0

Schäfer Fröhlich always makes great wine no matter what level. This Qualitätswein from a tough vintage does not disappoint a winner in my recent Club W tasting. Slightly bitter like many wines I like very slight petrol notes. Close to fermented pineapple according to Mimi our host at our dinner potluck. Here you go the women knows how to describe wine and has had fermented pineapple in past. — 9 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.2

Fuck. I can't stop drinking this. This wine bar across from my kitchen is draining my wallet on getting in bed with this girl. Pure relaxation, so silky, so balanced...the minerals, the cherries, the mysteries of every sip. Open for 10 minutes, open for 2 hours, doesn't matter, she's tight, she's loose, she's so gorgeous and quiet. Fuck. I gotta get out of here. — 10 years ago

with Arturo

William Allen - Two Shepherds

Owner/Winemaker Two Shepherds

9.3

Not warm weather, but I love Bandol rosé no matter when! :) — 11 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. — 5 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.2

This was the most pleasant surprise from the tasting. I know the rosé well. But the Blanc jumped up and said “Whaaats a matter wit chew. Pay attention. I’m damn good.” Right you are. That’s higher level summer swimming pool wine. — 6 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.3

En Magnum
Incredibly gentle, soft, mellow no matter the description the fruit just sings!! — 6 years ago

Shun Kikuchi

8.9

closed. Ruby with orange rim. Restraint intensity of aromas but not flabby. dry, mid acidity (well balanced), vervety. Already the window is open, just a matter of timing. Abv14.5% — 7 years ago

Quinn Peebles

10

Smoothest rye I have every had the esteemed pleasure of enjoying. Remarkable flavoring and impeccable finish. Buy it. It does not matter what your taste is, you will enjoy it. — 8 years ago

Mark Blatty

9.4

Just turned 10 and still tastes young. Napa classic no matter what the rating. — 8 years ago

Jerry Raphael

9.4

Opaque in color and chock-full of deep red fruits and berries with a touch of tar and cedar spice. Fully intergraded wine and so pleasurable to drink. I get their Zin and Cab from the winery ever year and have been doing so for 15 or so years. I drink them chronologically no matter what the vintage charts say and these wine never fail to please. — 9 years ago

with Barbara

Dana Thompson

9.1

Had this terrific Tempranillo at an otherwise average steakhouse at the suggestion of my waiter and wasn't disappointed with his claims of its characteristics. Lots of midrange cherry and wood with lower acidity than I expected. Hard to figure what the retail price would be as in a high end (if average) steakhouse all logic and reason goes out the window no matter what. I'd still say "get you some" though. — 9 years ago

Landon Sutherland

10

This is just one of the best wines! No matter what I try I always come back here and get blown away at every sip. Very bold, very dry! Perfect! — 9 years ago

Matt Wilson

8.9

Hands down my favorite producer of Zin...of any wine in California for that matter... Entry level and only non single vineyard wine from Ridge. It kills me that this wine is half the price south of the border. Positively delicious, juicy California fruit handled with old-world sensibility. — 10 years ago

with Nadia

Thomas Hughes

9.5

2 years in oak barrels, followed by 2 years of bottle age, then released in the 5th year. Montalcino has made Brunello both a science and passion. In the most recent vintages, 2001, 2004, 2006, it didn't matter the vineyard ... Most are outstanding. But some stick out and this wine does just that. The fruit that initially hits the palate is mind blowing. How can this not be a Bordeaux blend? How can this just be Sangiovese? But it continues with the grace and balance of an old world red. Unfortunately, I haven't seen this bottle in at least a few years and I only have 1 bottle left. But for under $50, this definitely stands out! Cheers! — 11 years ago