This is much improved and accessible since our last tasting two years ago. Paired with a Mediterranean feast of grilled lamb, mixed cheeses, olives, pita, and asparagus. Good blue and red fruit delineation, but the punchline is its incredible concentration, acidity, drinkability, and length. This is a classic, old-school Napa Cab akin to Bordeaux St. Julien or Margaux. Drink 2024-2030. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment scoreL 93.
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Still big. Pretty tannic. Thought it might be a bit more mellow than it is. It had five hours of air an was still kicking Great wine. Built to go longer.
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PNP and consumed over two days with little change. Was struck by the "freshness" of the wine, even at 10 years old. Aromas of red and blue fruits carried over into the flavor profile while adding hints of mushroom, forest floor and pencil lead. Actually, pretty complex for an entry level cab. Balanced and resolved with sufficient structure to go a few more years. Medium length finish that was pleasing to the palate.
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2h air. Medium ruby/purple color. Notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, forest floor, leather, baking spice and a hint of jalapeno. Creamy and smooth, medium-bodied, surprisingly restrained for a Napa Cab. Vibrant dark fruit on the palate, with a lingering finish that brings notes of earth into the mix. Worth the 5 year wait!
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Why didn’t I listen to my wino buddy at Seastar and wait for the excruciating two hour decant?
The sweet memory of the amazing one nighter I had with the Heitz 2007 filled my memes and I could not fight the urge and so I popped and poured ... .the 2013.
The vintages are miles apart, but the love I have for this maker forces me to love each vintage but please don’t say it’s a fling! This is different from the sudden affair I had with special selection; this wine has more history and legend.
I swear I can see memories of my past when it opens and regretfully, I killed half of the bottle with a brick of feta and maldon salt, along with a medley of freshly picked cherry tomatoes from my garden covered in Bull Mastiff piss.
Regardless, after 2 hours it opened up into the most seductive and moving cab experience I have ever had with a Napa red.
One moment you would bring the glass to your nose and be hit with stale mold, then the next moment give it a good twist in the glass and your nose is hit with a bouquet so ripe and intoxicating it pulls memories from your past.
After just one glass, and even BEFORE it opened, I decided to go down to the garage and grab a bag of frozen meatballs my nana made for my parents back in the 70’s.
I know, I know, but listen.
Mom forgot about the meat sauce for a year (not uncommon for stuff to be in our freezer for years), Nana died, and Mom did not have the heart to throw them away because Nana hated any waste of food of any kind.
So... to honor Nana, we kept them “frozen” for decades. Each year mom would change the bag, or move it to the center of the freezer. Each Christmas I would try and convince her to cook it up but she declined but we all swore we would have a feast soon.
Nana’s gone, mom had a stroke and there they were..... so I thawed them out slowly in a sauté pan over low heat. Added my herbs from the garden, garlic, and using some Tonnarelli from a specialty store, I laid those decades old meatballs over those Pasta noodles and enjoyed each bite with this wonderful wine. OK, now here is the review:
In the hallowed realm of viticulture, where time-honored traditions converge with nature's artistry, lies a true gem of vinous excellence—the 2013 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon. A libation that unfurls a symphony of flavors on the palate, akin to a beautiful Italian maiden, graceful, captivating, and impossible to resist.
As I gently uncorked this vintage treasure, the air became imbued with an enchanting symphony of aromas, rising like a crescendo of fragrant notes. A ballet of blackberries and currants pirouetted gracefully, entwined with hints of cassis and the softest brush of warm oak. Swirling the glass, the wine's bouquet sang with finesse, revealing a delicate tapestry of violets and anise that lingered like a lingering memory of a bygone era.
With a sense of reverence, I took the first sip, and the wine embraced my palate with tender sophistication. Rich, dark fruit caressed my taste buds, and a velvety texture akin to the soft touch of that Italian maiden's hand graced my senses. The wine's structure was a marvel to behold, like the architecture of ancient Rome, with finely-woven tannins providing an elegant backbone that bestowed both strength and refinement.
But what truly elevated this vinous experience to the sublime was its enchanting companionship with my grandmother's frozen meatballs from 1998. As I savored each bite of those time-traveled delicacies, the 2013 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon danced in harmonious symphony, enhancing the flavors of those seasoned spheres. The wine's robust profile mingled with the meatball's savory essence, as if they were destined to meet across the ages.
In a moment of gustatory delight, I marveled at how the wine gracefully embraced the rustic charm of the meatballs, elevating them to a level of unparalleled delectability. Together, they wove a tale of generations, connecting the past and the present in a joyous celebration of culinary history.
In the end, the 2013 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon proved to be a timeless masterpiece, resonating with both sophistication and charm, much like the captivating allure of a beautiful Italian maiden. This wine will forever linger in my memory, an everlasting tribute to the art of winemaking and the cherished flavors of my grandmother's legacy.
Heitz Cellars makes very good and long-lasting wines. High acidity and clear tannins, vintage 2013 was ok day 1, but brilliant day 2. Nice balance, good structure, and clear fruit. Leave for at least another 3 - 5 years.
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Was corked but not severely. Enough to close the bouquet, but the taste was okay. Mouthfeel also round and smooth. Became drinkable with subdued bouquet after a lot of airing and swirling and waiting about two hours.
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Opened and decanted 30-min ahead of seared filet Oscar style with mixed veggies @ Jaks West Seattle. Dark purple-crimson color. Still very primary, took about 2+ hours to get some fruit delineation on the palate. Floral nose of cherry blossoms, pencil lead, eucalyptus, and sweet tobacco. The palate is medium, square, compact, and very juicy, bringing a brambly core of blackberries, blueberries, and plums mixed with some chocolate cherries, raspberries, coffee, and mixed herbs. Still very tannic on the finish. Will be best 2024-2034, but this is still a treat now. Technical score: 94. Enjoyment score: 92.
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Dark ruby. Classic nose of blackberry, roses, graphite, chocolate, and green pepper, all blocked out like a Cezanne. On the palate, sweet clear juice with vibrant acids, light body, strong acids, fairly light aromatic tannins moving into a long finish with increasing depth. Mysterious complexities that speak of both light and darkness. A delicous puzzle between nose and palate and back.
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Have tested the Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 for two days. After double decanting the wine, it showed high acidity and was restrained on day 1. Day 2, the wine was brilliant, wonderful structure and elegant, ripe red and dark cherries, fine herbs and integrated oak. A finish that lasts a long time, incredibly good 🍷. It was superb for entrecote with fried vegetables and root vegetables, a sauce based on creme fraische, garlic, honey, basil and feta cheese. Conclusion; this is quality, and this wine lasts for many more years, wait at least 2 - 4 years before this wine begins to approach the top.
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Slow ox for an hour and then decanted for an additional hour. Deep violet in the glass. Rose petals, cherry pie and toasted bread aromas, leading to flavors of cherry, red licorice, vanilla and baking spice. Medium, rich and subtle complexity, nicely balanced, polished and elegant. Moderately long finish. I was surprised how fresh and "clean" the wine tasted, with almost no hint of aging apparent. A long life ahead but so enjoyable now...
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Beau cabernet au nez de cerise et de vanille. La bouche est souple, les tannins et le boisé sont bien intégrés. Un peu simple pour le prix demandé. Les cabernets américains ont beaucoup augmentés en prix, mais la qualité ne suit malheureusement pas. Je suis d’accord pour payer 50$ pour ce genre de vin, mais pas 80$! À boire d’ici 2-3 ans.
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The "old world" style was evident in this finely crafted cab from Napa Valley. Decanted for an hour plus and consumed over the following three. Expressive aromas of dark fruits that was a hint of what was to come. Flavors of blackberry, plum, dusty earth, vanilla, mocha and spice led to a medium mouthfeel and a lingering finish. Elegant, balanced and oh, so inviting. The initial sharpness noted by others disappeared at hour three, suggesting that a longer decant would be in order. Many years of life remain. Excellent!
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My wife decided for her birthday to go to a restaurant that frowns upon anyone bringing their own wine. So we ordered this bottle off the wine list. They opened it an decanted for us and we let it sit a while. The nose was dark berries and coffee. The palate was blueberry, blackberry, tobacco, roasted meat and a touch of dried spice on the finish. Overall an enjoyable wine. I just have a personal aversion to restaurant pricing on wine. I did make a deal with the owner that he would let me bring SQN's in at a reasonable corkage if he could have a glass with us. So hopefully I cracked the door a bit for the future.
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"This is what is good about Napa"; a nice bottle at a decent price point. Understated and dusty more than jammy, red fruit alongside the typical blue and black. Oak present but background. Mild tannins and not especially full bodied--clearly not an overly extracted wine. Will improve with a few more years in bottle, but was ready to go now.
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Intense nose with lots of fruit: blackberries, blueberries, plum. Hints of herbs with sage and mint. Also a slightly floral component. Hints of vanilla and light tobacco. On the palate also lots of fruit, but elegant and well balanced. No heat to speak of. good acidity, light tannins. Smooth and silky. Medium lengt. Very good. Elegant for a napa cab. Perhaps lacking some cabernet typicity (i.e. not much in the way of blackcurrant/cassis)
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Excellent producer and wine and at 7 years of age the wine more integrated and not as sharp. Lots of tasty Blackberries, cassis, chocolate and some pepper notes. This wine reminded me why Napa Valley Cab Sauv is so tasty.
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In keeping with my annual tradition! Just a wonderful some drinking cab. This one is even better than last year. Now looking forward to opening another next year. Great wine and thanks to Heitz Cellars.
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PNP thru a powered aerator. Deep semi opaque purple. Nose and taste of smoke, blueberry, tangy raspberries and blackberries. Some earthy and oak notes. Low to medium well integrated tannins but high acidity, esp on the finish. A little out of balance but nice flavor. About 92.
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PNP thru a powered aerator. Deep semi opaque purple. Nose and taste of smoke, blueberry, tangy raspberries and blackberries. Some earthy and oak notes. Low to medium well integrated tannins but high acidity, esp on the finish. A little out of balance but nice flavor. About 91.
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Jólavínsmakk Eðalklúbbsins 2019 (Marbakkabraut 12): Í seinni hlutanum þá gekk okkur enn bölvanlega að staðsetja vínin. Ég náði meira að segja að færa spænska vínið af réttum stað yfir á rangan og var því með eitt vín rétt staðsett í lokin.
Það var alveg rætt um að þetta vín gæti verið frá N-Ameríku en ég held að flestir hafi endað annars staðar með það. Ég gerði það að minnsta kosti. Mér finnst þetta bara ekki nógu gott vín. Held að þetta sé í þriðja skipti sem ég smakka það og alltaf eru hálfgerð vonbrigði með það. Sérstaklega kannski af því að það kostar rétt tæplega 8.000 kr.
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The common American napa style of Cabernet, but still holding on to a refined and not overoakrd style.
3 hours in decanter to really open up, but it showed nice soft fresh fruits (lots of blackberry, dark cherry), baking spice, cedar and gentle briary notes in the back. Plenty of tannin and acidity to make this baby last. Keep for another 5 to 10 for sure.
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This wine definitely needed to sit in the decanter for a while. The first sip was sour and sharp, the it softened over time. Great with steak. Could sit in my cellar for a few years for sure.
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Heitz Cellar 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon On the nose, hints of brown sugar, licorice, mint, baking spice. On the palate, lots of black fruit, candied fruit, stewed fruit, some brown sugar, elegant and some sweetness, smooth overall. A delicious Napa that got better after some time with that brown sugar notes.
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Always a wine I can count on from vintage to vintage, old school Napa Cab at its best! Leads with an upfront green herbal component: sage, mint, parsley, green pepper; and settles with blackberry, spicy black currant, brambly black raspberry, tart cherry, cocoa, and dark, moist earth. Excellent structure with oak being well integrated, and acid and tannin providing balance. Starting to hit its stride and enter its prime drinking window. Excellent!
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Aromas of graphite, blackberry, with a hint of lilac. Intense spread of lively blackberry fruit on the palate, vigorous tannins with a lovely acid sweetness on the back and a whisper of oak.
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Bu en succ. Dense lui aussi, pas mal de poivrons et des tanins gommants. Belle matière, du bois assez présent et une longue finale capiteuse. Bien mais pas pour moi et encore un fois beaucoup trop cher!
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Old school. I swirl the wine to the left while rotating the glass on its stem to the right, the legs - meaningless, they say, yet somehow pleasurable, reassuring - form and descend. The nose..., I can't get it exactly: pungent at first, evolving to, what, vanilla? Still brutally tannic. The bottle was opened six hours ago, decanted four. It's a full mouth, a pleasing sensation, decidedly not the cloyingly sweet, oppressive unction recent Cal Cabs have become. A nice effort by a seasoned family. Distinguished for not going along....
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Three hour decant. Deep dark magenta color. Anise, blackberry jam, blueberry and prune on the brooding nose. Smooth, dry, cottony palate. Firm, full tannins on the medium long finish. Good, but a bit too austere given the decant and price point.
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We liked this but agreed that for the money we love so many other Napa Cabernet Sauvignon’s better. It is lighter in color, aromas and body than typical Napa Cab’s we adore. This one is more similar to a Brunello, Pinot Noir, or other European wine. If that is your type of grape to drink, you’re in the right place. Our favorites are more of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stags’ Leap Winery Buena Vista, and Clos Du Val and Hall within this price range.
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Nice wine but a little too young. Very fruit forward with nice sweetness. Tannins are already starting to integrate nicely and with time I think this wine will improve greatly to become a “top of class”. 3-5 more years in the cellar with a drinking range of 10 years after that.
88+
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12 Days of Christmas - 2018; 12/21/2018-1/1/2019 (NYC, Vermont, Lake Placid): From the wine list at Peter Luger. Seemed like it would be one of the more restrained Napa cabs on the list - but quite disappointing. Very jammy - blueberry, soft and round without acidity to give it life. One glass was enough for me.
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This wine was richer than the $20 Sonoma Country Cab I tried along with it, but I thought it really needed more bottle aging even with a 3 hour decant. It seemed a little reserved. I would like to see where it goes with an additional 5-10 years of bottle age. Solid bottle, but didn't seem spectacular.
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Did not realize that this was the same year for this wine which I had earlier this year. Frankly this wine is just Ok. Dominated by a strong cedar wood driven overlay on muted blackberry fruit. Virtually no aromatics were present. The finish is very well balanced without any overly acidic nor tannic expression. I would say that this wine is all about the finish.
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Deep ruby. Well balanced - raspberry, dark cherry, earthiness, tobacco, chocolate, tannins. Needed at least 30 minutes to open up. Each taste improved upon the next. I would be interested to see how this would drink 2 to 3 years from now. A good, elegant and classic representation of a Napa cab.
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Opened and let breathe in bottle for 20 minutes or so. Aromas of cocoa and raspberry along with some peat smoke. Fruit forward on the palate, but not obnoxiously so. Got better and better as it opened up. Enjoyed with a bone in ribeye at Abe & Louie’s in Boston.
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I just absolutely love Heitz. So beautiful, elegant, and feminine with a nose chalk full of mint, eucalyptus, dried garden herbs, fresh dark fruits, graphite/asphalt and mild undertones of coffee. Straight out of the gate on the palate tart cherries, blackberries, and earthy underbrush.
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PnP. It was a little bland out of the bottle but it opened up nicely after about 15 minutes. Everything is subtle here. There’re is fruit, spice and a little earth, but all are gently intertwined nicely creating a sum greater than the parts. The finish is medium long with a touch of chocolate. Nicely balanced tannins and acidity. Although drinking very well now I think this still needs a little more time in the bottle.
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Really young and tight. I love Heitz, but my first 2013 isn’t showing great. Burgundy in color, relatively thin, dark berries. Lacks the minerality of past vintages. I’m sure this will improve. Revisit in a year.
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Two days later. The wine continues to hold its own. Surprisingly still fresh on the palette. Yes .... more thin than viscous but not bad and well balanced. Cherry, some blackberry and chocolate.
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More earth, game, and leather driven with fruit there but pushed to the back. High acid with moderate tannins. Might need a few more years but was a nice surprise and departure from many overripe 2013 Napa’s.
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Had at Sammy’s alongside a medium rare ny strip steak and fries. Needless to say that any wine would taste good in this context.
That said this was ok but not what I expected. Slightly closed and tannic. Deep burgundy color and not very viscous.... actually surprisingly thin. The wine is fairly flavorful with some BlackBerry and cedar wood. Medium length finish with similar notes.
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This is young and to early I think....needs a bit more time. I was like perhaps a 90 and my wife was an easy 86......so 88 it is...... I really liked the 2012 - but the 2013 right now is pretty tight and not showing much even after a 45 min decant.
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3/31/2024 - schnurbie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious wine, drinking perfectly
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3/28/2024 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is much improved and accessible since our last tasting two years ago. Paired with a Mediterranean feast of grilled lamb, mixed cheeses, olives, pita, and asparagus. Good blue and red fruit delineation, but the punchline is its incredible concentration, acidity, drinkability, and length. This is a classic, old-school Napa Cab akin to Bordeaux St. Julien or Margaux. Drink 2024-2030. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment scoreL 93.
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1/26/2024 - Raywilliams420 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still big. Pretty tannic. Thought it might be a bit more mellow than it is. It had five hours of air an was still kicking Great wine. Built to go longer.
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12/1/2023 - Tahlequahdave1972 Likes this wine: 92 Points
PNP and consumed over two days with little change. Was struck by the "freshness" of the wine, even at 10 years old. Aromas of red and blue fruits carried over into the flavor profile while adding hints of mushroom, forest floor and pencil lead. Actually, pretty complex for an entry level cab. Balanced and resolved with sufficient structure to go a few more years. Medium length finish that was pleasing to the palate.
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11/23/2023 - brennan18 wrote:
Color was good but had a very musty smell.... Maybe corked? Unfortunately my last bottle 😞
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11/21/2023 - daveyk39 wrote: 91 Points
2h air. Medium ruby/purple color. Notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, forest floor, leather, baking spice and a hint of jalapeno. Creamy and smooth, medium-bodied, surprisingly restrained for a Napa Cab. Vibrant dark fruit on the palate, with a lingering finish that brings notes of earth into the mix. Worth the 5 year wait!
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7/23/2023 - BellevuePhil Likes this wine: 94 Points
Why didn’t I listen to my wino buddy at Seastar and wait for the excruciating two hour decant?
The sweet memory of the amazing one nighter I had with the Heitz 2007 filled my memes and I could not fight the urge and so I popped and poured ... .the 2013.
The vintages are miles apart, but the love I have for this maker forces me to love each vintage but please don’t say it’s a fling! This is different from the sudden affair I had with special selection; this wine has more history and legend.
I swear I can see memories of my past when it opens and regretfully, I killed half of the bottle with a brick of feta and maldon salt, along with a medley of freshly picked cherry tomatoes from my garden covered in Bull Mastiff piss.
Regardless, after 2 hours it opened up into the most seductive and moving cab experience I have ever had with a Napa red.
One moment you would bring the glass to your nose and be hit with stale mold, then the next moment give it a good twist in the glass and your nose is hit with a bouquet so ripe and intoxicating it pulls memories from your past.
After just one glass, and even BEFORE it opened, I decided to go down to the garage and grab a bag of frozen meatballs my nana made for my parents back in the 70’s.
I know, I know, but listen.
Mom forgot about the meat sauce for a year (not uncommon for stuff to be in our freezer for years), Nana died, and Mom did not have the heart to throw them away because Nana hated any waste of food of any kind.
So... to honor Nana, we kept them “frozen” for decades. Each year mom would change the bag, or move it to the center of the freezer. Each Christmas I would try and convince her to cook it up but she declined but we all swore we would have a feast soon.
Nana’s gone, mom had a stroke and there they were..... so I thawed them out slowly in a sauté pan over low heat. Added my herbs from the garden, garlic, and using some Tonnarelli from a specialty store, I laid those decades old meatballs over those Pasta noodles and enjoyed each bite with this wonderful wine. OK, now here is the review:
In the hallowed realm of viticulture, where time-honored traditions converge with nature's artistry, lies a true gem of vinous excellence—the 2013 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon. A libation that unfurls a symphony of flavors on the palate, akin to a beautiful Italian maiden, graceful, captivating, and impossible to resist.
As I gently uncorked this vintage treasure, the air became imbued with an enchanting symphony of aromas, rising like a crescendo of fragrant notes. A ballet of blackberries and currants pirouetted gracefully, entwined with hints of cassis and the softest brush of warm oak. Swirling the glass, the wine's bouquet sang with finesse, revealing a delicate tapestry of violets and anise that lingered like a lingering memory of a bygone era.
With a sense of reverence, I took the first sip, and the wine embraced my palate with tender sophistication. Rich, dark fruit caressed my taste buds, and a velvety texture akin to the soft touch of that Italian maiden's hand graced my senses. The wine's structure was a marvel to behold, like the architecture of ancient Rome, with finely-woven tannins providing an elegant backbone that bestowed both strength and refinement.
But what truly elevated this vinous experience to the sublime was its enchanting companionship with my grandmother's frozen meatballs from 1998. As I savored each bite of those time-traveled delicacies, the 2013 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon danced in harmonious symphony, enhancing the flavors of those seasoned spheres. The wine's robust profile mingled with the meatball's savory essence, as if they were destined to meet across the ages.
In a moment of gustatory delight, I marveled at how the wine gracefully embraced the rustic charm of the meatballs, elevating them to a level of unparalleled delectability. Together, they wove a tale of generations, connecting the past and the present in a joyous celebration of culinary history.
In the end, the 2013 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon proved to be a timeless masterpiece, resonating with both sophistication and charm, much like the captivating allure of a beautiful Italian maiden. This wine will forever linger in my memory, an everlasting tribute to the art of winemaking and the cherished flavors of my grandmother's legacy.
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3/18/2023 - "Rhône Rider" Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rålekker nese med moreller, rødbær, leire, parfyme. Konsentrert munn med moreller, blyantspiss, sedertre. Lang avslutning med ake og treflis. 93
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1/2/2023 - Deryl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted a couple hours, drank with Christmas dinner Beef Wellington. Excellent pairing, wonderful drink fully expressed.
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11/1/2022 - SirJ Likes this wine: 92 Points
Heitz Cellars makes very good and long-lasting wines. High acidity and clear tannins, vintage 2013 was ok day 1, but brilliant day 2. Nice balance, good structure, and clear fruit. Leave for at least another 3 - 5 years.
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8/15/2022 - Winiac wrote:
Was corked but not severely. Enough to close the bouquet, but the taste was okay. Mouthfeel also round and smooth. Became drinkable with subdued bouquet after a lot of airing and swirling and waiting about two hours.
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4/2/2022 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened and decanted 30-min ahead of seared filet Oscar style with mixed veggies @ Jaks West Seattle. Dark purple-crimson color. Still very primary, took about 2+ hours to get some fruit delineation on the palate. Floral nose of cherry blossoms, pencil lead, eucalyptus, and sweet tobacco. The palate is medium, square, compact, and very juicy, bringing a brambly core of blackberries, blueberries, and plums mixed with some chocolate cherries, raspberries, coffee, and mixed herbs. Still very tannic on the finish. Will be best 2024-2034, but this is still a treat now. Technical score: 94. Enjoyment score: 92.
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3/19/2022 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark ruby. Classic nose of blackberry, roses, graphite, chocolate, and green pepper, all blocked out like a Cezanne. On the palate, sweet clear juice with vibrant acids, light body, strong acids, fairly light aromatic tannins moving into a long finish with increasing depth. Mysterious complexities that speak of both light and darkness. A delicous puzzle between nose and palate and back.
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2/12/2022 - SirJ Likes this wine: 93 Points
Have tested the Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 for two days. After double decanting the wine, it showed high acidity and was restrained on day 1. Day 2, the wine was brilliant, wonderful structure and elegant, ripe red and dark cherries, fine herbs and integrated oak. A finish that lasts a long time, incredibly good 🍷. It was superb for entrecote with fried vegetables and root vegetables, a sauce based on creme fraische, garlic, honey, basil and feta cheese.
Conclusion; this is quality, and this wine lasts for many more years, wait at least 2 - 4 years before this wine begins to approach the top.
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12/12/2021 - Tahlequahdave1972 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Slow ox for an hour and then decanted for an additional hour. Deep violet in the glass. Rose petals, cherry pie and toasted bread aromas, leading to flavors of cherry, red licorice, vanilla and baking spice. Medium, rich and subtle complexity, nicely balanced, polished and elegant. Moderately long finish. I was surprised how fresh and "clean" the wine tasted, with almost no hint of aging apparent. A long life ahead but so enjoyable now...
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8/15/2021 - elevwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank over 3-hour dinner with friends. Decanted but still opening up during hour three. Just needs more time.
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1/6/2021 - pinot_glenn Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank X-mas eve dinner 1/3/21
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1/3/2021 - MatLot Likes this wine: 91 Points
bon vin trop chers deja pret a boire
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1/2/2021 - Goodjob! Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beau cabernet au nez de cerise et de vanille. La bouche est souple, les tannins et le boisé sont bien intégrés. Un peu simple pour le prix demandé. Les cabernets américains ont beaucoup augmentés en prix, mais la qualité ne suit malheureusement pas. Je suis d’accord pour payer 50$ pour ce genre de vin, mais pas 80$! À boire d’ici 2-3 ans.
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12/30/2020 - Tahlequahdave1972 Likes this wine: 92 Points
The "old world" style was evident in this finely crafted cab from Napa Valley. Decanted for an hour plus and consumed over the following three. Expressive aromas of dark fruits that was a hint of what was to come. Flavors of blackberry, plum, dusty earth, vanilla, mocha and spice led to a medium mouthfeel and a lingering finish. Elegant, balanced and oh, so inviting. The initial sharpness noted by others disappeared at hour three, suggesting that a longer decant would be in order. Many years of life remain. Excellent!
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11/24/2020 - Vinofitz wrote: 90 Points
Drinking very well- a bit of sharpness from tannins but dark fruit is very evident. Some subtle earth notes and a medium finish.
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9/22/2020 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
My wife decided for her birthday to go to a restaurant that frowns upon anyone bringing their own wine. So we ordered this bottle off the wine list. They opened it an decanted for us and we let it sit a while. The nose was dark berries and coffee. The palate was blueberry, blackberry, tobacco, roasted meat and a touch of dried spice on the finish. Overall an enjoyable wine. I just have a personal aversion to restaurant pricing on wine. I did make a deal with the owner that he would let me bring SQN's in at a reasonable corkage if he could have a glass with us. So hopefully I cracked the door a bit for the future.
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9/14/2020 - Château de Farmer Likes this wine: 92 Points
"This is what is good about Napa"; a nice bottle at a decent price point. Understated and dusty more than jammy, red fruit alongside the typical blue and black. Oak present but background. Mild tannins and not especially full bodied--clearly not an overly extracted wine. Will improve with a few more years in bottle, but was ready to go now.
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7/11/2020 - Puteljen! Likes this wine: 93 Points
Intense nose with lots of fruit: blackberries, blueberries, plum. Hints of herbs with sage and mint. Also a slightly floral component. Hints of vanilla and light tobacco. On the palate also lots of fruit, but elegant and well balanced. No heat to speak of. good acidity, light tannins. Smooth and silky. Medium lengt. Very good. Elegant for a napa cab. Perhaps lacking some cabernet typicity (i.e. not much in the way of blackcurrant/cassis)
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6/21/2020 - schnurbie Likes this wine: 90 Points
Can't express enough how wonderful, tasty, easy drinking cabernet this is.
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6/7/2020 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent producer and wine and at 7 years of age the wine more integrated and not as sharp. Lots of tasty Blackberries, cassis, chocolate and some pepper notes. This wine reminded me why Napa Valley Cab Sauv is so tasty.
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5/22/2020 - schnurbie Likes this wine: 90 Points
In keeping with my annual tradition! Just a wonderful some drinking cab. This one is even better than last year. Now looking forward to opening another next year. Great wine and thanks to Heitz Cellars.
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5/12/2020 - RockyII Likes this wine: 92 Points
PNP thru a powered aerator. Deep semi opaque purple. Nose and taste of smoke, blueberry, tangy raspberries and blackberries. Some earthy and oak notes. Low to medium well integrated tannins but high acidity, esp on the finish. A little out of balance but nice flavor. About 92.
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5/6/2020 - RockyII Likes this wine: 91 Points
PNP thru a powered aerator. Deep semi opaque purple. Nose and taste of smoke, blueberry, tangy raspberries and blackberries. Some earthy and oak notes. Low to medium well integrated tannins but high acidity, esp on the finish. A little out of balance but nice flavor. About 91.
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12/13/2019 - bitdrerik wrote: 89 Points
Jólavínsmakk Eðalklúbbsins 2019 (Marbakkabraut 12): Í seinni hlutanum þá gekk okkur enn bölvanlega að staðsetja vínin. Ég náði meira að segja að færa spænska vínið af réttum stað yfir á rangan og var því með eitt vín rétt staðsett í lokin.
Það var alveg rætt um að þetta vín gæti verið frá N-Ameríku en ég held að flestir hafi endað annars staðar með það. Ég gerði það að minnsta kosti. Mér finnst þetta bara ekki nógu gott vín. Held að þetta sé í þriðja skipti sem ég smakka það og alltaf eru hálfgerð vonbrigði með það. Sérstaklega kannski af því að það kostar rétt tæplega 8.000 kr.
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12/7/2019 - gediminasbielskus Likes this wine: 88 Points
The common American napa style of Cabernet, but still holding on to a refined and not overoakrd style.
3 hours in decanter to really open up, but it showed nice soft fresh fruits (lots of blackberry, dark cherry), baking spice, cedar and gentle briary notes in the back. Plenty of tannin and acidity to make this baby last. Keep for another 5 to 10 for sure.
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12/4/2019 - Levinsb wrote:
Really nice Napa can. Structure to last but enjoyable now if decanted. Good value vs where Napa cabs are often priced.
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12/3/2019 - cufflink13 wrote: 85 Points
ok
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11/30/2019 - Fuzball Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine definitely needed to sit in the decanter for a while. The first sip was sour and sharp, the it softened over time. Great with steak. Could sit in my cellar for a few years for sure.
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11/23/2019 - Deatzin wrote: 88 Points
Had better at a $40 price point. Maybe too soon or need to leave open longer. Will wait on second bottle and hope for improvement.
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10/3/2019 - Vinofitz wrote: 94 Points
Perfectly integrated. Cherry and cola. Drinking well. Tannins are silk and balanced.
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8/31/2019 - VinoMike59 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needed a long decant- good cab, but not up to what I was expecting from a '13 Heitz
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8/28/2019 - ceadsearc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Heitz Cellar 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
On the nose, hints of brown sugar, licorice, mint, baking spice.
On the palate, lots of black fruit, candied fruit, stewed fruit, some brown sugar, elegant and some sweetness, smooth overall. A delicious Napa that got better after some time with that brown sugar notes.
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8/4/2019 - Neilrothmd wrote:
Gift to Dweck
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7/27/2019 - wmccone54 wrote: 92 Points
Always a wine I can count on from vintage to vintage, old school Napa Cab at its best! Leads with an upfront green herbal component: sage, mint, parsley, green pepper; and settles with blackberry, spicy black currant, brambly black raspberry, tart cherry, cocoa, and dark, moist earth. Excellent structure with oak being well integrated, and acid and tannin providing balance. Starting to hit its stride and enter its prime drinking window. Excellent!
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7/7/2019 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aromas of graphite, blackberry, with a hint of lilac. Intense spread of lively blackberry fruit on the palate, vigorous tannins with a lovely acid sweetness on the back and a whisper of oak.
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6/19/2019 - maxima wrote: 88 Points
Bu en succ.
Dense lui aussi, pas mal de poivrons et
des tanins gommants. Belle matière, du bois assez
présent et une longue finale capiteuse.
Bien mais pas pour moi et encore un fois beaucoup trop cher!
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6/13/2019 - Teaky Likes this wine:
Bold nose of blackberry, bold cab, slightly tannic, flavors of blackberry, black cherry, some leather, low acid, short mouthfeel, nice Napa cab.
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6/1/2019 - Alvarovazquez Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice Cab, lots of berries. Not as acid or tannic as expected. Ready to drink now.
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4/18/2019 - franinnyc wrote: 86 Points
Not my thing. Very acidic. Sour.
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3/30/2019 - schnurbie Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great wine and should continue to improve. Probably wait another year before opening another and then wait another year until the eight are consumed
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3/26/2019 - Jmf17 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Old school. I swirl the wine to the left while rotating the glass on its stem to the right, the legs - meaningless, they say, yet somehow pleasurable, reassuring - form and descend. The nose..., I can't get it exactly: pungent at first, evolving to, what, vanilla? Still brutally tannic. The bottle was opened six hours ago, decanted four. It's a full mouth, a pleasing sensation, decidedly not the cloyingly sweet, oppressive unction recent Cal Cabs have become. A nice effort by a seasoned family. Distinguished for not going along....
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2/15/2019 - AGELVIS wrote: 89 Points
Three hour decant. Deep dark magenta color. Anise, blackberry jam, blueberry and prune on the brooding nose. Smooth, dry, cottony palate. Firm, full tannins on the medium long finish. Good, but a bit too austere given the decant and price point.
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2/11/2019 - feinwine Likes this wine:
We liked this but agreed that for the money we love so many other Napa Cabernet Sauvignon’s better. It is lighter in color, aromas and body than typical Napa Cab’s we adore. This one is more similar to a Brunello, Pinot Noir, or other European wine. If that is your type of grape to drink, you’re in the right place. Our favorites are more of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stags’ Leap Winery Buena Vista, and Clos Du Val and Hall within this price range.
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1/7/2019 - bordeaux456 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice wine but a little too young. Very fruit forward with nice sweetness. Tannins are already starting to integrate nicely and with time I think this wine will improve greatly to become a “top of class”. 3-5 more years in the cellar with a drinking range of 10 years after that.
88+
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12/28/2018 - Boardman84 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Not as tannic and “harsh” as the older vintages used to be at release. These are ready to drink.
Herb, leather and plum.
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12/27/2018 - Brhouts wrote: 88 Points
Fruit forward. Not really what I was looking for
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12/25/2018 - retired_and_roving Does not like this wine:
12 Days of Christmas - 2018; 12/21/2018-1/1/2019 (NYC, Vermont, Lake Placid): From the wine list at Peter Luger. Seemed like it would be one of the more restrained Napa cabs on the list - but quite disappointing. Very jammy - blueberry, soft and round without acidity to give it life. One glass was enough for me.
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12/23/2018 - vandal16 wrote: 91 Points
Dark fruit and earth. A bit of mint on the smooth finish.
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12/22/2018 - Glenn A Likes this wine: 92 Points
BlackBerry, long finish, really great Cab for the $
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12/22/2018 - sdwineguru wrote: 89 Points
Mid-dark garnet; berry, prune, tar, rubber boot nose; mid body; odd flavor; doesn't seem like a Cabernet; hot (14.5 alc.) woody semi-chewy finish.
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12/2/2018 - Huntingtoncc wrote:
Gundersen
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11/24/2018 - jamesdoeser wrote: 90 Points
Lovely full and rounded Cab. Some mint and eucalyptus. Old enough to enjoy now.
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11/5/2018 - wineotim wrote: 92 Points
At a tasting event in Tampa. Smooth, with good depth of dark fruit, lingering finish. nicely polished wine.
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10/28/2018 - fcf3 wrote:
JS93
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10/27/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Fresh and soft
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10/25/2018 - bdisk1235 Likes this wine:
Enjoyable but very primary with little showing beyond the fruit. I wouldn’t open for at least a few more years.
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10/24/2018 - Twirex Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dunkle Frucht, wird schokoladig, sehr breites aber rundkörniges Tannin. Sehr lecker
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10/20/2018 - jkscully Likes this wine:
This wine was richer than the $20 Sonoma Country Cab I tried along with it, but I thought it really needed more bottle aging even with a 3 hour decant. It seemed a little reserved. I would like to see where it goes with an additional 5-10 years of bottle age. Solid bottle, but didn't seem spectacular.
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10/10/2018 - LEEJV123 Does not like this wine: 89 Points
medium body, round, a bit short
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8/28/2018 - tomoem wrote: 89 Points
Did not realize that this was the same year for this wine which I had earlier this year. Frankly this wine is just Ok. Dominated by a strong cedar wood driven overlay on muted blackberry fruit. Virtually no aromatics were present. The finish is very well balanced without any overly acidic nor tannic expression. I would say that this wine is all about the finish.
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8/16/2018 - seppyk Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep ruby. Well balanced - raspberry, dark cherry, earthiness, tobacco, chocolate, tannins. Needed at least 30 minutes to open up. Each taste improved upon the next. I would be interested to see how this would drink 2 to 3 years from now. A good, elegant and classic representation of a Napa cab.
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8/9/2018 - PourSomeRed wrote: 91 Points
Classic Cab. Needs 2 hours in decanter to open up. Fruit is ripe and youthful.
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8/2/2018 - ralstenm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big tannin dark berry with some stone and earth. Great with New York strip!
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7/15/2018 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened and let breathe in bottle for 20 minutes or so. Aromas of cocoa and raspberry along with some peat smoke. Fruit forward on the palate, but not obnoxiously so. Got better and better as it opened up. Enjoyed with a bone in ribeye at Abe & Louie’s in Boston.
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6/24/2018 - signotim Likes this wine: 92 Points
Birthday dinner at Bernardus
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5/19/2018 - djs Likes this wine: 88 Points
Better in 2022 to 2027.
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3/14/2018 - Ryan.Vento Likes this wine: 92 Points
I just absolutely love Heitz. So beautiful, elegant, and feminine with a nose chalk full of mint, eucalyptus, dried garden herbs, fresh dark fruits, graphite/asphalt and mild undertones of coffee. Straight out of the gate on the palate tart cherries, blackberries, and earthy underbrush.
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2/2/2018 - JS1056 wrote: 88 Points
PnP.
It was a little bland out of the bottle but it opened up nicely after about 15 minutes. Everything is subtle here. There’re is fruit, spice and a little earth, but all are gently intertwined nicely creating a sum greater than the parts. The finish is medium long with a touch of chocolate. Nicely balanced tannins and acidity. Although drinking very well now I think this still needs a little more time in the bottle.
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1/27/2018 - Twitch12 wrote: 88 Points
Really young and tight. I love Heitz, but my first 2013 isn’t showing great. Burgundy in color, relatively thin, dark berries. Lacks the minerality of past vintages. I’m sure this will improve. Revisit in a year.
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1/14/2018 - tomoem Likes this wine: 90 Points
Two days later. The wine continues to hold its own. Surprisingly still fresh on the palette. Yes .... more thin than viscous but not bad and well balanced. Cherry, some blackberry and chocolate.
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1/11/2018 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 90 Points
More earth, game, and leather driven with fruit there but pushed to the back. High acid with moderate tannins. Might need a few more years but was a nice surprise and departure from many overripe 2013 Napa’s.
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1/9/2018 - tomoem wrote: 89 Points
Had at Sammy’s alongside a medium rare ny strip steak and fries. Needless to say that any wine would taste good in this context.
That said this was ok but not what I expected. Slightly closed and tannic. Deep burgundy color and not very viscous.... actually surprisingly thin. The wine is fairly flavorful with some BlackBerry and cedar wood. Medium length finish with similar notes.
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11/4/2017 - Colorado3G Likes this wine: 88 Points
This is young and to early I think....needs a bit more time. I was like perhaps a 90 and my wife was an easy 86......so 88 it is...... I really liked the 2012 - but the 2013 right now is pretty tight and not showing much even after a 45 min decant.
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10/31/2017 - EMichels wrote: 89 Points
Nice cab nose; Tight tart cherry
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9/28/2017 - Cancan12 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Excellenr 5 stars - Full bodied and well-balanced. Great aromas of vanilla, chocolate, mint. Really smooth and dry with a great finish.
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12/1/2016 - thursey7 Does not like this wine:
So So
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