April 11, 2022 - Deep medium garnet color, uncorrupted. Delicious frosted wedding cake nose with black and red fruits. Blackberry jam traits with excellent structure.
February 19, 2020 - 13,5% alcohol.
Deep, developed and quite concentrated dark ruby red color that permits some light through. A pale dried blood-red rim. The nose feels juicy, sweet and somewhat tertiary with aromas of juicy strawberries, some dusty earth, a little bit of ripe dark plums, a little bit of London licorice, light oxidative notes of soy sauce, a hint of blood and a mushroomy touch of sous-bois and earth. The wine is juicy, full-bodied and somewhat sweet-toned on the palate with a textural mouthfeel and quite ripe flavors of strawberries, some wizened dark plums, a little bit of tobacco and cigar box, light oxidative notes of hoi-sin, umami hints of beef jerky and mushrooms and a salty touch of soy sauce. The wine is medium to moderately high in acidity with ample yet quite resolved medium-plus tannins that slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is dry, textural and quite tertiary with savory flavors of fried porcini mushrooms, gamey meat, some developed notes of leather and salty soy sauce, light smoky notes, a hint of prunes and a touch of strawberry jam.
A rich and very evolved Napa Cab. It has aged quite gracefully, but is getting quite tertiary at this point and the overall consensus was that the wine is now going slowly downhill. Most likely this would've been better 5-8 years ago. Still pretty enjoyable, but not in top shape anymore. The wine still retains quite balanced structure, but stylistically, with its obviously ripe fruit, it is a bit sweeter than what I'd like. Good but not great.
March 11, 2017 - This wine was delicious, far exceeding expectations given the age of the wine. Still with lots of dark fruit, good length and smooth texture. Actually did better than the 1986 Haut Brion the same night.
May 6, 2015 - Back Vintage Wine Night (Extra Space): Pop and poured. Drank over 2 hours.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, garnet colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of capsicums, tobacco, tea leaves, earth, and sweet red and black cherries. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium alcohol, silky smooth medium- tannins, medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of capsicums, tobacco, tea leaves, earth, sweet red and black cherries, red plums. Long finish.
Very good quality. Over the course of the 2 hours, the capsicums and tea leaves initially were more prominent, receding at the 1 hour mark, allowing the sweet fruit to exhibit itself. By 2 hours, the fruit was fading already and capsicums dominated. Nearing the end of its life and long run. Drink up.
The 1986 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Bella Oaks I drank last year was much better. This bottle had no vineyard indication on the label.
February 16, 2013 - slight bricking, some smoke / funk upon opening on the nose, smoky nose remained throughout the evening, when opened i hoped an hour in the decanter would bring more fruit fwd but it didn't, wine was fine but no fruit and that was its fatal flaw, nice acid, some nice secondary / herbal elements, a good drink but not great
November 20, 2003 - ORANGE ON THE EDGE. NOSE A BIT MUSTY THOUGH IT DID BLOW OFF TO REVEAL SOME BERRY FRUIT. BLACK CHERRIES IN THE FLAVOR. IMPROVED OVER THE MEAL BUT STILL SOMEWHAT DRAB. SHORT TO MEDIUM FINISH.
May 3, 1991 - At Singer & Foy survey of '86 Cabs with BLR and MPL. Good medium-dark ruby color. Not a great nose. It seems half-oxidized already. Hollow. Way off on the palate. Tastes like motor oil. It's a crime anyone would try to profit from this wine. 5-6-7-2: 70/100.
March 27, 1991 - Wood and bark on the nose, more of the same on the palate, needs time, long, long finish.