48x 1990 (37x Bdx, 6x Napa, 5x others): Six Napa wines were added to this Bdx tasting. 1990 was not an overly exciting vintage in Napa Valley, clearly overshadowed by the 91/92/94 vintages. Almost all of the wines are past peak with not enough fruit left. In addition the vintages misses a bit of charm and creaminess and remains rather on the astringent side of things. The only star was the Heitz Martha’s Vineyard (94 pts) which showed complex, savoury, balanced and creamy with that typical Martha’s mint kick. Opus (92 pts) and Heitz Bella Oaks (91 pts) were still ok, while the La Jota Howell Mt (86 pts) and Simi Reserve (87 pts) and Latour Beaulieu Reserve (dead) were past peak.
TN: Intense, aged Cali nose with very ripe dark berries, herbs, meaty notes which might turn shortly into soy sauce and broth. But right now still on the good side of things. Slightly alcoholic. On the palate a good freshness, nice herbs and minty freshness, some herbs and leather, some tobacco. A touch fresher and younger on the nose, good structural frame, nicely creamy, good length. 90/91 pts.
Decanting: No decanting needed.
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This was pretty good, perhaps a little unbalanced and no longer showing classic Heitz appeal. Clearly at the end of its life. Drink up. Don't wait on these.
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I recognized this as a younger wine (blind tasting of '83 to '95 vintages of Bordeaux and Calif cabs). Fruit and tannins evident. Of all the wines, this seemed different. Tasting the next day, no improvement noted. In fact, I liked it less. Ranked #2 of 7 in 2014 NYEve blind tasting (#1 '86 Phelps Napa cab, #3 '83 Prieure-Lichine). I ranked this as #3 of 7.
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Upon opening the wine was flat, after about an hour and a half in a decanter the wine began to open up nicely and was a nice complement to our dinner The wine looks Brick colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Raisin. The body is Medium. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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The restaurant had this by the glass (at a whopping 31 bucks a glass, which is 1 deciliter in Switzerland). This was very good and worth the money. It had a lot of power, some eucalyptus, earth and leather. I really like this wine!
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Still drank very well even though it is supposed to be past it's prime. Solid traditional California Cabernet. Opened up nicely after about an hour or so.
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Heitz and deer (Heitz und Hirsch mit René Gabriel) (Restaurant Sempacherhof): This bottle came blind after the 1990 bella oaks, the difference was that it was decanted for three weeks (!) before the tasting. Amazing, that the wine still is better. We all agreed that this experiment should have been made with the 1985. The wine was performing good but not as good as the one decanted only 6 hours. The interesting thing was that it showed eucalyptus.
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4/24/2022 - Cailles wrote: 91 Points
48x 1990 (37x Bdx, 6x Napa, 5x others): Six Napa wines were added to this Bdx tasting. 1990 was not an overly exciting vintage in Napa Valley, clearly overshadowed by the 91/92/94 vintages. Almost all of the wines are past peak with not enough fruit left. In addition the vintages misses a bit of charm and creaminess and remains rather on the astringent side of things. The only star was the Heitz Martha’s Vineyard (94 pts) which showed complex, savoury, balanced and creamy with that typical Martha’s mint kick. Opus (92 pts) and Heitz Bella Oaks (91 pts) were still ok, while the La Jota Howell Mt (86 pts) and Simi Reserve (87 pts) and Latour Beaulieu Reserve (dead) were past peak.
TN: Intense, aged Cali nose with very ripe dark berries, herbs, meaty notes which might turn shortly into soy sauce and broth. But right now still on the good side of things. Slightly alcoholic. On the palate a good freshness, nice herbs and minty freshness, some herbs and leather, some tobacco. A touch fresher and younger on the nose, good structural frame, nicely creamy, good length. 90/91 pts.
Decanting: No decanting needed.
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6/23/2016 - dkstar1 wrote: 89 Points
This was pretty good, perhaps a little unbalanced and no longer showing classic Heitz appeal. Clearly at the end of its life. Drink up. Don't wait on these.
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2/21/2016 - David J Cooper wrote: 80 Points
This bottle seemed sweet and out of balance. No acid or tannin left to balance the sweet red fruit.
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12/31/2014 - mplsbruin Likes this wine: 90 Points
I recognized this as a younger wine (blind tasting of '83 to '95 vintages of Bordeaux and Calif cabs). Fruit and tannins evident. Of all the wines, this seemed different.
Tasting the next day, no improvement noted. In fact, I liked it less.
Ranked #2 of 7 in 2014 NYEve blind tasting (#1 '86 Phelps Napa cab, #3 '83 Prieure-Lichine). I ranked this as #3 of 7.
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9/18/2014 - Wine_lvr wrote: 92 Points
Heitz, Heitz, Heitz and Heitz: Tasting note to follow
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4/20/2013 - Daley Cellars Likes this wine: 88 Points
Upon opening the wine was flat, after about an hour and a half in a decanter the wine began to open up nicely and was a nice complement to our dinner
The wine looks Brick colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Raisin. The body is Medium. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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12/17/2011 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
@ Roberta & David Ehrenreich's 50th Anniversary. A good cab which has lost it's fruit.
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3/10/2011 - G_H Likes this wine: 92 Points
The restaurant had this by the glass (at a whopping 31 bucks a glass, which is 1 deciliter in Switzerland). This was very good and worth the money. It had a lot of power, some eucalyptus, earth and leather. I really like this wine!
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1/24/2011 - Cardinalscientific wrote: 90 Points
Still drank very well even though it is supposed to be past it's prime. Solid traditional California Cabernet. Opened up nicely after about an hour or so.
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11/27/2010 - G_H Likes this wine: 89 Points
Heitz and deer (Heitz und Hirsch mit René Gabriel) (Restaurant Sempacherhof): This bottle came blind after the 1990 bella oaks, the difference was that it was decanted for three weeks (!) before the tasting. Amazing, that the wine still is better. We all agreed that this experiment should have been made with the 1985. The wine was performing good but not as good as the one decanted only 6 hours. The interesting thing was that it showed eucalyptus.
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11/27/2010 - G_H Likes this wine: 92 Points
Heitz and deer (Heitz und Hirsch mit René Gabriel) (Restaurant Sempacherhof): Dense, long, mixed black berries, tar, chocolate, really good
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4/18/2010 - no leashes wrote: 89 Points
Nice cherry, cedar, tar flavors, fine tannins, good finish. Definitely need to drink now, but nice sharing an evening with an old friend...
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5/4/2008 - King Cab wrote: flawed
Corked! Like Tony Soprano says "What are you gonna do?". :)
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