showing lots of oak at first, comes together after about 1.5 - 2 hours of air. red fruit profile, still present tannins. i like it but the retail has gone away up since purchase
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Fruity (both red and black, a lot of plum) and quite some greenness. The oak is on the lighter side for a napa cab. Bold on the palate, intense punch of fruit with some tobacco and spices. High alcohol and acidity, chalky tannins. Overall not bad but not too interesting, lacking structure and complexity.
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Dark fruit, leather, eucalyptus and some vegetable notes yielding a rather masculine, concentrated and animal character overall. Good concentration on the palate supported by a solid acid structure, although lacking on the mid palate.
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This.is really singing. Still young with notes of oak (vanilla, sweet spices) but also plenty of fruit, dark notes like cassis, dark cherries, some earthy notes, leather and some eucalyptus and dried herbs. Medium-full bodied, with medium+ tannin and some medium-high acidity. Nice length. Just overall a very nice Napa Cab with a reasonable QPR. Beautiful.
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Heitz is an absolute, long term favorite. Never had a bad bottle in 40 years. The problem I've got with this note, is that recently, I had a 2003 Diamond Creek, and a 2012 Heitz Martha's. Both made in the same way, but different.
(So, this wine truly hasn't got a freaking chance, because my expectation bias is on high alert!!)
Also, with scores in the 90s on this wine seen from my CT brethren, it makes me question, more than usual, my original and initial thoughts.
***And 48 hours later*** .... It's finally opened up and it's doing everything a Heitz cab does! Which means... 1- Decant this 4 hours+ before drinking.
2- better yet, leave this thing in the bottle for 5-10 years! There's absolutely no reason to open this anytime soon. Maybe some of those other Napa Bluechippers, but definitely not this name!
Anyway....
Pronounced Medium-Deep Ruby The usual black fruit Black currant, Spices, sweet cherry, cedar, cigar box
Dry Alcohol high Acid high Tannins high, structured, shows after only 48 hours (it doesn't show it's structure and potential upon opening thru even 2nd day) Full - medium body Viscosity high, fully enveloping Long finish 60+;seconds
Very Good wine, but wouldn't have said that on day 1!!
This wine is very good, though, it's apparent that the alcohol effect is less than ideal, or at least it's changed from the Heitz hay-daze!
Alas, I'll keep buying this name, if not this wine. Yes, Martha's Vineyard is a stretch, but, I'm too old and crotchety to drink this, when I know that!
(I've enough to drink in the morning and scribe since final notes. Could easily give it 85 as a 90 at this juncture. Easily 90. Good thing I had enough for 3 days. Would have been a sin to say anything but keep it for a while!)
CS 100% 14.0% abv
PS- Drink The Rainbow!
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Beautiful dark purple with ruby rim Nose of cherry, raspberries, and plum Raspberries and spice on the palate Heavy acidity and heavy tannins Rich full-bodied wine with a great taste
This is one of my favorite wines. My 82 y/o mother has a fondness for this wine as well
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$53 at Trader Joe's but not a bargain. This is restaurant plonk to sell by the glass and in no way expresses anything about Heitz, Napa, or Cabernet Sauvignon. I've had equally innocuous wines from Chile, Lodi, and geogrphically obscire places and this fits right in. A shame the Heitz name is on it, and 86 is generous.
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Restaurant pop and pour. Two hours after pulling the cork this shows red fruit, ferns and flavored tobacco on the nose. Watery red fruit on the palate shows basic structure but with little depth.
As AG notes, not sure to what extent this is impacted by the vintage. You can do much worse for the $$.
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Med purple colour Pronounced nose of red and black fruit, blackberry, ripe dark cherry, oak Med+ acidity, med+ tannins and med+ body Flavours of blackberry, cassis, black cherry, oak, dry tobacco Great balance and smoothness, good length, great intensity and good complexity
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Another enjoyable Napa Valley bottling from Heitz. Sometimes I think I enjoy the straight NV more than the single vineyards from Heitz, especially at the price point. I like the interplay of red and black fruits like cherries, blackberries with hints of fresh bay leaf and rosemary woven in as well. Very refined tannins and an even silky like mouthfeel, which is very unexpected for a cab. A little tobacco on the palate as well.
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Two hour decant. Very very deep magenta color. Grapefruit rind, cinnamon, and raspberry on the nose. Smooth, tongue drying, modestly tart palate. Soft, round tannins on the longish finish.
This is clearly a victim of the vintage. We’ll made for the price point, but too tart and red fruited.
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4/21/2024 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another very good bottle of this. Old-schoolish Napa with good freshness.
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3/11/2024 - gvfinck wrote: 89 Points
Quite frankly not a favorite. Oaky but a bit thin. Would have liked more body and taste of berries. There is better out there for that price.
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2/25/2024 - RKcellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
showing lots of oak at first, comes together after about 1.5 - 2 hours of air. red fruit profile, still present tannins. i like it but the retail has gone away up since purchase
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1/10/2024 - LordVoldemort Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Fruity (both red and black, a lot of plum) and quite some greenness. The oak is on the lighter side for a napa cab. Bold on the palate, intense punch of fruit with some tobacco and spices. High alcohol and acidity, chalky tannins. Overall not bad but not too interesting, lacking structure and complexity.
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12/25/2023 - gaplayer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted 30-45 minutes. Dark fruit, leather. Medium bodied. Paired well with a prime rib dinner and well after on its on.
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11/19/2023 - cdimaro wrote: 92 Points
Dark fruit, leather, eucalyptus and some vegetable notes yielding a rather masculine, concentrated and animal character overall. Good concentration on the palate supported by a solid acid structure, although lacking on the mid palate.
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11/17/2023 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 92 Points
This.is really singing. Still young with notes of oak (vanilla, sweet spices) but also plenty of fruit, dark notes like cassis, dark cherries, some earthy notes, leather and some eucalyptus and dried herbs. Medium-full bodied, with medium+ tannin and some medium-high acidity. Nice length. Just overall a very nice Napa Cab with a reasonable QPR. Beautiful.
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11/4/2023 - Eute Likes this wine: 92 Points
Needes a an hour to open up. Fruity, big tannins, can almost drink now and for years.
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9/13/2023 - Collector1855 wrote: 93 Points
Lots fo dark fruit, cassis, eucalyptus. Good tannic bite, precise. This one could also do well as a pirate in a Bordeaux flight. 92-94
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8/6/2023 - Joelene wrote: 91 Points
Very young but with loads of potential
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7/30/2023 - Sagan99 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Heitz is an absolute, long term favorite. Never had a bad bottle in 40 years.
The problem I've got with this note, is that recently, I had a 2003 Diamond Creek, and a 2012 Heitz Martha's. Both made in the same way, but different.
(So, this wine truly hasn't got a freaking chance, because my expectation bias is on high alert!!)
Also, with scores in the 90s on this wine seen from my CT brethren, it makes me question, more than usual, my original and initial thoughts.
***And 48 hours later***
.... It's finally opened up and it's doing everything a Heitz cab does!
Which means...
1- Decant this 4 hours+ before drinking.
2- better yet, leave this thing in the bottle for 5-10 years! There's absolutely no reason to open this anytime soon. Maybe some of those other Napa Bluechippers, but definitely not this name!
Anyway....
Pronounced Medium-Deep Ruby
The usual black fruit
Black currant, Spices, sweet cherry, cedar, cigar box
Dry
Alcohol high
Acid high
Tannins high, structured, shows after only 48 hours
(it doesn't show it's structure and potential upon opening thru even 2nd day)
Full - medium body
Viscosity high, fully enveloping
Long finish 60+;seconds
Very Good wine, but wouldn't have said that on day 1!!
This wine is very good, though, it's apparent that the alcohol effect is less than ideal, or at least it's changed from the Heitz hay-daze!
Alas, I'll keep buying this name, if not this wine.
Yes, Martha's Vineyard is a stretch, but, I'm too old and crotchety to drink this, when I know that!
(I've enough to drink in the morning and scribe since final notes. Could easily give it 85 as a 90 at this juncture.
Easily 90. Good thing I had enough for 3 days. Would have been a sin to say anything but keep it for a while!)
CS 100%
14.0% abv
PS- Drink The Rainbow!
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5/28/2023 - MikeDB Likes this wine: 92 Points
On the elegant side for a Napa cab. Maybe 1-hour of air was all it needed.
More red fruited: raspberry, currant. Well incorporated oak, subtle mocha notes. Lovely herbal/mint too.
Good length, good balance.
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3/18/2023 - sniderbd@gmail.com wrote:
Seemed a little acidic
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2/27/2023 - castle.rob@gmail.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful dark purple with ruby rim
Nose of cherry, raspberries, and plum
Raspberries and spice on the palate
Heavy acidity and heavy tannins
Rich full-bodied wine with a great taste
This is one of my favorite wines. My 82 y/o mother has a fondness for this wine as well
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1/31/2023 - jcm87 wrote: 86 Points
$53 at Trader Joe's but not a bargain. This is restaurant plonk to sell by the glass and in no way expresses anything about Heitz, Napa, or Cabernet Sauvignon. I've had equally innocuous wines from Chile, Lodi, and geogrphically obscire places and this fits right in. A shame the Heitz name is on it, and 86 is generous.
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12/9/2022 - Cooperd166 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice earthy 100% Cab. Better paired with meat than drinking by itself
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11/28/2022 - THECORKDORK Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wayy too young, but classically styled delicious Napa Cab.
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10/26/2022 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 89 Points
Restaurant pop and pour. Two hours after pulling the cork this shows red fruit, ferns and flavored tobacco on the nose. Watery red fruit on the palate shows basic structure but with little depth.
As AG notes, not sure to what extent this is impacted by the vintage. You can do much worse for the $$.
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10/15/2022 - Dougtulsa Likes this wine: 92 Points
solid. classic tasting california cab.
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10/3/2022 - marcellonegro wrote: 92 Points
Med purple colour
Pronounced nose of red and black fruit, blackberry, ripe dark cherry, oak
Med+ acidity, med+ tannins and med+ body
Flavours of blackberry, cassis, black cherry, oak, dry tobacco
Great balance and smoothness, good length, great intensity and good complexity
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7/23/2022 - GrapeCrusader Likes this wine: 93 Points
Another enjoyable Napa Valley bottling from Heitz. Sometimes I think I enjoy the straight NV more than the single vineyards from Heitz, especially at the price point. I like the interplay of red and black fruits like cherries, blackberries with hints of fresh bay leaf and rosemary woven in as well. Very refined tannins and an even silky like mouthfeel, which is very unexpected for a cab. A little tobacco on the palate as well.
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6/6/2022 - AGELVIS wrote: 89 Points
Two hour decant. Very very deep magenta color. Grapefruit rind, cinnamon, and raspberry on the nose. Smooth, tongue drying, modestly tart palate. Soft, round tannins on the longish finish.
This is clearly a victim of the vintage. We’ll made for the price point, but too tart and red fruited.
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