Were Estate

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1978

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!
— a month ago

Severn, Vanessa and 29 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

These are awesome totally forgot which back vintages i had.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Yeah, some of those old-school, back vintages of Martha's Vyd don't exactly suck. Jelly.

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

From magnum. Cork and wax were a mess. Totally disintegrated and required the coffee filter and everything just to pour and decant the wine

3 hour decant before dinner. Paired with wagyu ribeye steaks. Amazing. This wine was just balanced and smooth. Just delicious.
— 5 months ago

Tom, Ethan and 6 others liked this

Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

We had the 2019 Vintage on 6/8/24. The tannins were fine, but this wine will get better in 5 or more years. Tastes of blackberry, plum and mocha. Full bodied. — 7 months ago

Severn and "Odedi" liked this

Colgin Cellars

IX Estate Napa Valley Red Blend 2021

Colgin tasting with Neal Bernardi(COO) and Allison Tauziet(winemaker). Nice three hour tour through the vineyard, cellar, wine making operations, and tasting. Neal and Allison were terrific hosts!

2024 Colgin tank samples
2021 Colgin Tychson Hills
2021 Colgin Cariad
2021 Colgin Estate
— 2 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Bob and 12 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2016

I think I preferred the 2015 but ever so slightly and as much as I struggle to believe glasses make a difference they poured the 2016 in a big cab glass and I think that distracted from the flavors that were evident in the tighter 2015 glass. — 4 months ago

Scott@Mister, Ira and 4 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

One of my favorites! Opened one at home to celebrate the new job and love it. Definitely best out of the cellar but second and third glass were still better than my usual. — 6 months ago

"Odedi" and Jacqui liked this
Jacqui

Jacqui

Ohhhh! I like this one too!

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2018

Lived up to their reputation. Tannins were prominent but fine and integrated and not overbearing due to the fruit intensity. Balanced and long once it breathed for 1+ hr — 7 months ago

Big, Ted and 8 others liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

2000 vintage. Last tasted 9.25.23 (9.2) after 1.5 hours decanted. Popped and decanted this for lunch. Great fill and solid cork. Throwing a bit of sed but less than anticipated. Meh nose. Medium body initially. Started off on the rich side of the ledger but not plush. Had some smoothness afoot. Tasted after 45 mins open, 1.75 hours open and 8 hours open. First two were unspectacular. After lounging in the decanter 8 hours, wine had firmed up, thinned out, picked up plenty of secondary flavors and had that previously missing grip. If you're gonna open this during the holidays or anytime soon, do it very very early...otherwise, it'll be a total waste. Wine has miles to go. No rush to crush but just air it out in advance properly. 10.16.24. — 2 months ago

Ira, Jan and 21 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Nice long description!

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Lovely bottle of 1986 Ducru Beaucalliou. A little smoky and not as long as the last bottle but solid with rib chop, sautéed spinach, mushrooms Diane, and Beef Fat Fries at Hawksmoor NYC. Staff said they were going to decant and then did not. I think it would have opened more had they. Next time: insist. — 4 months ago

Byron, Ted and 4 others liked this

Chateau Montelena

The Montelena Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

1998 vintage. Been waiting to taste this one again for over two decades. 1998 wasn't the best Napa Cab vintage. The best 98's were generally mountain fruit-like the Dunn Howell Mountain. When this was released back in the day, it was brawny, taut and tannic but still maintained balance. This Montelena 1998 Estate Cab was better than nearly everyone's 1997 (an acclaimed/excellent across the board) Napa cabs back then. FF 23 years later...surprise! Some things haven't changed. Decanted and tasted after 10 mins, 30 mins and 2 hrs. Excellent fill and cork. Throwing respectable sed. Massive color. Great aged, leathery nose. Still medium heavy bod. Baking chocolate, ripe plum and grilled beef in the flavor profile. Consistent performer through the entry, mid and back palate hoops without drop-off during the ceremony. Tannins still evident but well-integrated with the abundance of fruit. Not improving but this is rock steady and in a very sweet spot/top of the bell curve for at least another decade. It was worth the wait. 6.29.24. — 6 months ago

Severn, Jan and 11 others liked this