2018 Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red
Community Tasting Note
csimm wrote:
Friday, April 30, 2021 - 3 days in Napa: Arkenstone, Memento Mori, Maxem, The French Laundry, Christopher Tynan, Kinsman, Harlan, Vice Versa, Accendo, Fairchild, Macdonald, and a truckload of others (Napa): This wine zips by the front end and rushes straight into mid-palate pleasure, with deep and dark plum and red and black cherry flavors complimented by earth and subtle spice notes. Stays ever-juicy until it hits the finish, drying up on the tail just enough to beautifully marry the tannins with the fruit into a crescendo that elongates the semi-serious finish. Again, a juxtaposition of sophistication and party-rockin’ flavor appear to be a hallmark of the winemaker here.
Give the Bella Oaks 3+ years of cellar time minimum before tearing into a bottle. Ideally, I’d hold this for even longer to really get a sense of where it’s headed (5-7 years), but really who’s waiting that long to try their first bottle?! 95+ points.
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27 comments have been posted
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (7,493 views)
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
5/1/2021 7:15:00 AM - The producer is on the radar with Nige at the helm. I'm looking forward to trying this in person. Hopefully soon.
Comment posted by csimm:
5/1/2021 9:30:00 AM - With Nigel I'm confident the quality of juice coming from this site will go WAY up. During the Staglin days, they were always just 'ok' or 'pretty good.'
Comment posted by RockinCabs:
5/5/2021 7:36:00 PM - Thanks for posting. I cannot wait for this release as this site deserves to be shown in the best possible light. Bella Oaks in the early Heitz era were great, but then you had the Brett tainted wines creep in. Then under Staglin wines seemed like an undercard to the estate wine. New beginning will be fantastic.
Comment posted by csimm:
5/5/2021 7:44:00 PM - Totally agree RockinCabs. It’s a special site that absolutely needs to have a winemaker at the helm who can treat it as such. I think it’s back in good hands finally.
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
5/6/2021 9:32:00 AM - Thanks for posting about the history of this site. This will be a fun project to follow considering Nige is blending these wines now. I'm wondering who is managing the vineyard?
Comment posted by RockinCabs:
5/6/2021 9:36:00 AM - David Abreu is managing the vineyard now. I expect this could really become one of the best sites in Rutherford.
Comment posted by csimm:
5/6/2021 9:37:00 AM - Abreu is overseeing vineyard management. Plus you have Michel Rolland in the mix with Nigel, so the die is cast for a solid pedigree.
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
5/6/2021 9:47:00 AM - Dream team for sure. Thanks for the reply.
Comment posted by jonboy74:
7/19/2021 5:04:00 PM - did you get any indication as to intended pricing on these?
Comment posted by csimm:
7/20/2021 9:04:00 AM - Hi jonboy. I have not heard anything definitive on pricing here. Given the players and the site, my best guess is we aren't gonna get away with shelling out anything south of the $200 mark.
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
7/22/2021 1:51:00 PM - Taking a poll.
Over or under? $195.00
Comment posted by csimm:
7/22/2021 2:45:00 PM - Over
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
7/22/2021 2:58:00 PM - Csimm.. I'm wondering if this will be priced like La Vol... Hmmm
Comment posted by csimm:
7/22/2021 4:17:00 PM - I’m thinking more... just cuz of the players involved and invested in this reboot. I have no hard info, so I’m gonna day $225 just for fun.
Comment posted by jonboy74:
7/22/2021 11:10:00 PM - Are we doing "Price is Right " rules?
I bid $196
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
7/23/2021 7:56:00 AM - Locked in at $196!
Comment posted by blarmston:
8/5/2021 6:19:00 PM - Does anyone know the price point for this wine? And when it’s expected to be released?
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
8/5/2021 8:33:00 PM - $275 Sept 21 release.
Comment posted by csimm:
8/6/2021 7:13:00 AM - Figured it was gonna be on the steeper side north of $200+. 😐
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
8/6/2021 8:29:00 AM - I wonder what total production was for 18. Any idea?
Comment posted by #1Winelover:
9/9/2021 6:33:00 AM - Interesting pricing strategy on her 1st release. LPB gave it 98+ and AG rated it 98 which is saying something.
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
9/21/2021 9:30:00 AM - 324 Cases. You think it sells out today?
Anyone buy a 3L?
Comment posted by csimm:
9/21/2021 9:54:00 AM - I'd be pretty surprised if it didn't.
Comment posted by RockinCabs:
9/21/2021 10:40:00 AM - Bought my allocated 3 pack, and the 1.5L were already sold out. This will be gone quick.
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
9/21/2021 10:43:00 AM - Shae is a marketing machine. At least of a few of you on here have been able to back up the hype by tasting in person. That always helps.
Comment posted by #1Winelover:
9/21/2021 5:06:00 PM - It's a hard sell @ $300 with shipping on a wine that I've never had.
Comment posted by MJP Hou TX:
9/21/2021 6:05:00 PM - #1. I figured I'd roll the dice on a blind buy knowing the vineyard history and team. At 324 cases if I don't like it it will be an easy flip. Fingers crossed.