Community Tasting Notes 7

• The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 97 points

  January 14, 2023 - Retail $50. 375ml. Under cork. There was a time that I was a member of the Van del Heyden wine club and I would drive up to the "tasting room" (more of a shack) to pick up the wines. On one such occasion, in 2003, I also bought a bottle of this wine, one of the few Late Harvest Cabernets in the world (at least at the time of purchase). I am pretty sure the winery is no more as no doubt André Van del Heyden has either retired or, well, died (I Googled to no avail). While this is easily the best late harvest Cab I have had (since it is the only), the number of "dessert wines" I would rank above it forms a very short list. Dark in the glass with intense, albeit slightly stewed, blackberry, plum, and cassis. Whoa. While interesting and delicious, the nose really gave no indication as to the level of intense joy that I would experience on the palate. Fruity and certainly a bit sweet, it is far too easy to say that this is unlike any Cabernet I have ever tried. Bright, fruity, layered, nuanced, this is an intense experience at the risk of sounding cliché. It is not often that I am at a loss for words when it comes to describing a wine, but that is how I feel. Sure, the fruit is lovely and impressive, but it is the zingy, extraordinary acidity that defines this wine. Holy cow. This is nothing short of a revelation.
  
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• KevinTucker Likes this wine: 96 points

  December 20, 2012 - Some years ago, my girlfriend at the time and I visited the vineyard and purchased several bottles of Vander Heyden wine. Most of it was not memorable, but I rather forgot about this little 375mL bottle in the cellar.
  
  I brought it out for a holiday dinner party this past holiday season and everyone was simply blown away. It was the best digestif I've ever served, with deep, rich concentrated flavors. There is clearly enough sugar left here to leave this in the cellar for a few more years.
  
  I just wish that I had purchased a few more bottles.

  1 person found this helpful Comments (1)

• islandpotter wrote: 96 points

  April 3, 2010 - I have never rated a wine this high and it probably should be higher. We knew it was port like from tasting it at the vineyard several years ago. I was hoping it was still good and we believe it had improved over what we remembered. Had it after the end half of a melt in your mouth angus filet. We had a decent wine with dinner but the filet was so good I decided to splurge and open this. We sat on the back porch and savored this wine after the steak. It was the best bottle we have opened in a long time. If you can get it , it is worth paying whatever the cost. We will definitely be visiting this vineyard our next trip out West.

  Comment

• Outplaying wrote:

  February 6, 2010 - Hangin' out in a blizzard (Brett and Carols, Landenberg, PA): This is one of those wines I almost could have been happy just smelling. Really nice. Sweet with slightly raisiny port like flavors.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• Outplaying wrote:

  July 31, 2008 - Impromptu Tasting with Friends (Ann's): very sweet, with nice port like flavors. Should have written more notes! Everyone liked this one.

  1 person found this helpful Comments (4)

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Wine Definition

• Vintage 1997
• Type Red - Sweet/Dessert
• Producer Van Der Heyden
• Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
• Designation Late Harvest
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Napa Valley
• Appellation Napa Valley

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 41 (53%)
• Consumed 36 (47%)

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