Firm acidity to support the rich apple, pear and citrus flavors and toasty oak component. — 10 days ago
Began in 1944, Mario Incisa acquired Cab Sauv & Franc vine cuttings, planted them on San Guido estate, called Castiglioncello, Sassicaia, "the place of many stones". A blend of 85% Cab Sauv, 15% Cab Franc. Lovely ripe fruit & spice aromas. Bold berry fruit flavors with spice, oak, leather & cacao, a powerhouse. Soft tannins allows current enjoyment. Long silky smooth fresh finish ending with fruit, oak and spice. Great now, will age, but drink now, outstanding. Little pricey at $300. Tasting Sample. — a month ago
Medium-deep ruby color.
Aromas of black cherry, leather, stewed tomato, cured meat, hard goat cheese.
Dry. Flavors of hard goat cheese, black cherry, peppercorn, leather, subtle clove. Medium-rich, chewy tannins. Notes are complex and vivid! Fantastic!
Intensity: 5/5
Complexity: 5/5
Balance: 5/5
Finish: 5/5 — 2 months ago
Rich and layered. Bursting with ripe fruit this is a fast moving bottle. It doesn’t last very long. Ever sip is a treasure. The mix of the balanced grape selection with the Italian terrior gives this lots of heft and kick. I have had. A mixed success rate with this wine but this vintage is outstanding. — a month ago
Cant tell which varietal this is. I believe Zinfandel blend? Very bold. Not spicy, but not profile. Lots of oak. Enjoying with thick New York cut. — 11 days ago
Still remarkably youthful, it’s rich, dense and dark fruited, layered with classicism of cigar box, cedar and spices. The palate is concentrated and powerful with a silky texture and incredible length. 95 is nowhere near its peak. Many more years to go. And while I’ll never be a real Bordeaux lover, it’s clear what makes these first growths special. — 10 days ago
Another excellent purchase from the Benchmark Bin Sale. I love these 15-20 year Heitz Napa Cabernets…97 the rule, not the exception. It had perfect storage and is at its peak and will hold for another 1-2 years and diminish over the following 3-5 years.
The nose is floral dark cherry kirsch. Both plums, blackberries, black raspberries, pomegranate, strawberry liqueur notes, steeped tea, red & dark cola/licorice, dark rich earth, sharp, dry herbs, black pepper, dry twig with dark & red fresh & slightly withering florals.
The palate is ripe fruits well balanced with earth. Perfect evolution & integration. Soft, elegant w/ nothing bitty. Dark currents with ripe, leaner, juicy, slightly liqueured; blackberries, black raspberries, late spring dark cherries, both plums, orange rune, raspberries & poached strawberries. Heavy Asian & Indian, dark spices, black licorice/cola, pure anise, steeped, black tea, touch of black olive, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanilla, dry tobacco, dry Provence herbs, barrel shavings, dry pipe tobacco/ash, some lead pencil, leathery, moist, grey, volcanic clay, crumbled limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry river stone, dry brush, grilled meats-Châteauneuf-du-Pape characteristics w/ ragging, withering florals that are dark, red, purple, rainfall acidity with excellent; structure, tension, balance, polished finish that does not end. Wire to wire consistency. Lucky to enjoy a well stored bottle of 97 with this age. — a month ago
Noelle
Rich, smooth, complex & yummy — 11 days ago