December 15, 2021 - This is a lovely wine and at least for my taste right in the perfect spot. There's definitely age here and the secondary notes are there but I still get some fruit and of course the more herbal style that I associate with Heitz. Drinking quite well. Some good heft at the beginning but it also settles into itself.
April 22, 2018 - Herb vegetal nose with hints of dark chocolate. Deep red color. Still decent fruit on palate but fades quickly. Drink now!
March 31, 2018 - Unfortunately it was corked
April 14, 2017 - A smooth yet edgy vintage from this highly variable vineyard. Supple and mild aromas of dark cherries, chocolate, spices and a hint of leather. On the palate, it is silky and remarkable structured at this point displaying dark berry, leather and earthy flavors. The finish is relatively long and fantastic with elements of the farm factoring in the flavor, likely a brutish old world wine. A nice surprise at this age, I would drink now.
October 24, 2016 - The Rotating Dinners, I.6: Napa (Chicago, IL): Corked.
March 13, 2016 - Color is of a wine much younger than 30. The nose is very nice: warm fruits, a little leather. 1 hour decant and it drank beautifully. Well balanced with nuance and complexity, very smooth. It developed in the glass for a few hours so I assume this has a good life ahead of it. Enjoy it now after a good decant or over the next many years.
June 29, 2015 - Mid-garnet; older Cabernet nose; herbaceous; old wood; mid to soft body; decent fruit and flavor; a little short; fading.
September 8, 2014 - Bottle in perfect condition, excellent cork. Pretty red currant fruit, some nice tobaccoey notes. In better shape than other mid tier 85s I've had recently, but like many of them, there's not much of a midpalate and the acid is poking out. Ok but no better.
June 25, 2013 - Monday California Tasting: This was somewhat a difficult wine and it separated the fellow tasters in two poles. Why? There were quite a lot of leather and barn smells to it so it is really a matter of taste if you like such types of wines. Reminded somewhat of an old St. Julien. Now to the taste, there were dark fruit and a bit of Port sweetness, but all covered again by an animalic taste. The wine still has a lot of tannins and IMHO tends to dry out. Drink now with food.
January 28, 2012 - I agree with Blue below. This wine showed great -- in an ethereal old world way, with sweet elegant fruit and beautiful balance. I know '85 was a great year; but here we're not even talking about the Martha's Vineyard and it's still impressive -- beyond most of its class -- however and whatever you want to put in its class.