Shay A

9.5

After missing a ‘70s and ‘80s Heitz vertical many years ago, I vowed to seek out a bottle as all the comments from the tasting were astoundingly positive. My last bottle of Heitz Martha’s was the ‘01 (which was great) a few years ago, but at 46yrs, this was quite the experience.

The ‘78 has a bit of a legendary status, so expectations were high. Upon opening, the cork was in good shape (sigh of relief) and the color was unbelievably dark ruby with some bricking (another sigh of relief). The singular signature menthol/eucalyptus began to fill the glass, alongside aromatics of red berry fruits, espresso, some sort of sweet brown sugar/caramel note, and a savory-graphite type note too. Beautifully elegant on the palate with more red fruit, herbs (bay leaf?), and even some pipe tobacco (subdued, not in your face), but it sports the classical old Napa cab profile that is pure. Spectacular wine, and I could simply smell the wine all day…the aromatics were so powerful the entire time.

Open in bottle for three hours and powered through the entire time. Wish I had another so I could have the same experience! — 2 days ago

Pooneet K

9.2

Very nice wine and drinking fresher than the 2007 Tignanello we had alongside. Classic Napa, but also with the right level of restraint. Quite delicious. — 14 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Quite floral with plummy cassis, creamy blackberry and a touch of pencil lead, crushed rocks . On the palate this has quite good freshness , ripe cassis and blackberry , but with dusty firm tannins . Mineral , seashell hints of on the good length finish . Quite richly fruited but well balanced overall . This needs more time but for 2018 is promising, balanced with good freshness . Come back in 10 -15 years and will show well a further 10 — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Enjoyed alongside some other Napa legends from the 80’s and 90’s. The 1985 is lovely and came more than willing, with a mix of tart, ripe and desiccated red fruits, Montmorency cherries, red currants, graphite, toasted coconut, leather and nuts. There was a slightly sherried character early on the nose but the structure seemed to defy age. No need to cellar further as this is delicious now and well stored examples should continue to be through 2030+. — 23 days ago

Tom Garland

9.1

Tried 3 years ago, and it was a tannic bottle of disappointment, it's changed for the better.

2 hour decant(some chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: dark fruit, cocoa, pencil shavings, floral, cigar box, menthol. Taste: soft, elegant wine with some black/red fruit, currants, crushed stone, and an earthy black tea lean medium finish. Not the depth and power of a great year, drinks well now...not sure how much more this will improve. — 2 days ago

Alan Hyde

9.2

Huge pedigree on this one, being from the younger vines of Harlan… not a true second label. Rich Oakville flavors. For the price point you can do better. Also could have improved with a couple more years in the bottle I think. — 8 days ago

Marc Melser

9.0

We had the 2017 Vintage on 10/23-25/24. A real good PN that had classic Sonoma Coast flavors of cherry, strawberry, cola, sassafras and minerals. Well balanced, medium bodied with a velvety mouthfeel. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Brief , informal notes . Medium garnet , garnet terracotta rim . Quite mature and tertiary with coffee , cacau , dark cassis and smoky notes . On the palate there are some sweet ripe dark fruits, meaty notes and a tobacco , soy tinged finish . Quite rounded sweet tannins and balanced acidity . Medium length finish , though just a little one dimensional , this shows pretty well overall . Drink now and over the next 5 years . — 25 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2006 pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of desiccated fruit and funky umami notes: bruised and desiccated strawberry, red rope licorice, nori, Cherry Dr. Pepper, cracked black pepper and leather. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long and saline; it just hangs around forever. Initially, this came across as bit backward but it really gained power and character the more time it spent in the glass. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 15 days ago

Jeff Miller

9.5

Fantastic Napa cab that’s in a beautiful spot right now. Well balanced. Notes of Blackberry, Cassis, Pencil Shavings, Mint, and that ever present Rutherford Dust. — 6 days ago

with Ted