My last bottle unfortunately. In a sweet spot now, there’s still plenty of blue and black fruit combined with tertiary flavors of tobacco, leather, sous bois. Napa origins showing through, but this is cool, upright and strict. Great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wasn't expecting much as this was misread as a 2002 vs the actual vintage of 1998 (Common error with Heitz labeling). It still delivered in an unexpected way. I was time pressed so double decanted it to and from the bottle with my Winebreather Carafe. Earthy and dusty. Lots of tannins, sort of Brunello from Rutherford.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Took a flyer on this at a Spectrum Auction ... glad I did, still singing after nearly 20 years, with the stuffing to go several more. Would definitely seek out again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Took about an hour to open up and when it did, wow. There's still so much dark fruit here, it's so restrained and well knit together and behind there's flavors of tobacco, leather, forest. The tannins are soft and smooth, no edges. There's enough material here to keep this going for many, many years. Californian Cabernet at its best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've had this wine many times…and I think this is the best its been. Heitz just killed it in the off Vintage 98. Direct from the Winery on release….this bottle is showing very youthful with dark dried cherry, currant, plum skin fruit…..wonderful earth tones, dusty cedar wood, dried herbs, old leather, tobacco leaf, coffee……still solid in structure, yet has a pretty smooth texture to it….refined dusty tannins. Not as much "Heitz" mint or euc…..but does show some herb. A little aged nuttiness as well…..just SO damn tasty, old school here…..LOVE this stuff!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened up with time...30 minutes. No bricking and fantastic color. Earth notes, pencil lead and some fruit. Last two bottles will need to be finished off soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Additional comment in previous note, needed 20 minutes to open nicely. After 45 minutes it was about a 94 rated wine. It began to fade after about an hour and lost some of its strength. A very good wine but ready now. Do not believe it will get better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
- Brick color and aromas of black pepper. It's in total harmony and has flavours of dusty with a medium/full body. Leathery texture with a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured at a BYO restaurant. Drinking really well. Complex nose of red fruit, cedar, tobacco. Black and red currant on the palate, aromatics also carry over to the flavor profile. Lots of secondary characteristics have developed, but still has a good amount of fruit left. Incredible balance. Sadly I wish more california producers made this style of wine, at only 13.5% alcohol.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Remarkable colour for its age, red fruit, vanilla, tropicana, hawiian tropic nose, not a lot of secondary aromas. Med to full bodied, still fresh, next to a bunch of 06, 07's it certainly didn't stand out as a mature wine. Still drinking well, don't expect it will improve but certainly not dead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not the best Heitz I've had, but a nice drinking wine. Thin legs, a bit watery, hints of smoke, muddled pecans, piano keys and Ipod headphones. Drink now to avoid disappointment
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for two to three hours. Still a little tannic. Perhaps could have benefited from some additional bottle time. Thin mouth feel. Very good, not great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Same as my original post. Bordeaux style Cali Cab that is drinking very well. Mine showed no evidence of breaking down. Still nice tannins and just outright delicious. Love it!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
mature and smooth drinking yet still full bodied, but not over the top. Decanted for :45 which helped a great deal. Don't wait much longer to open if you own a bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Once decanted, a smoother cab + improved the 2nd day so consider giving it a couple of hours before drinking on day one. Surprisingly, not a great deal of depth for a Heitz Trailside but a pleasurable nose and interesting mix of tastes without too much oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is really a wonderful fully aged Cali Cab.. I was worried about TCA from talk about this era here or something, but instead treated to a great perfectly wonderful, balanced ready to drink wine. Dense, chewy.. don't hold too much longer thou, if you have some. Bravo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I haven't tried this wine for over a year - it is still tasting great: dark fruit, cassis, leather with hint of minerality and vanilla, soft tannins. The '98 Trailside remains my clear favorite as opposed to Martha's vineyard and Bella Oaks. This wine is probably fully matured, but should drink very well for another 3-5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We really enjoyed this wonderful Bordeaux style wine that was nicely balanced, smooth drinking, with nice mouth feel and no oak. While it is not overly complex it has a gorgeous nose of leather, tobacco and molasses that lead to elegant integrated flavors of burnt cherry, leather, mild cigar smoke, molasses and short sweet light tannic finish. While there is no reason to hold this wine longer it could ride for a couple more years. We really loved it!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted at the winery. Very good wine. Nice cabernet nose, which follows through to the sturdy, focused palate. Cassis, black cherry, still with some tannins suggesting it will last at least a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Refined bouquet with dark forest fruits, cedar, sweet spices and some earth. Same on the palate with sweet and ripe cassis, pleasant acidity, soft tannin and a long finish. Really good. Can age a few years as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
91-92 Pts. This is the style Napa Cab I like. Good fruit on a solid frame, without any of the extraction, oak or sweetness of most modern stuff. Red fruits. This has fresh minerality and is very youthful. Was great with Polish Kilbasa on the grill. Drink now and over the next 3-5 years...AMM
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially tasted at a Zachy's tasting. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine but held my tasting note until I could give it a fair review. Decanted 3 hours. Definitely not a new world California cab here. In fact, this wine is more Bordeaux like than Cal Cab. No oak present. A bit of a vegetable on the palate but not too much. Medium bodied with a nice finish. I really enjoyed this wine. Ready to drink but still has the structure to last for years to come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Napa February 2009; 2/16/2009-2/20/2009: This was very good and even though it was quite well integrated it would use several more years in the bottle. Some roasted meat component on top of regular cabernet flavors in a medium body package. 90-91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great vino! Very well balanced and drinking beautifully. Dark berries, plum and cherry with red roses, hints of spice and subtle vanilla. The finish sings and lingers for several seconds. Highly recommend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Visiting Napa & All Around; 8/2/2008-8/18/2008 (California - USA): How can someone say that the best moment of this wine cellar has passed time ago? What an error! This wine, to have still a long way to go: cherry colour, is creamy, full of mentholated and eucalyptus fragances; some silky and smooth tannins accompanying. There is not glimpses of excesses in wood or alcohol. A round bottle to drink by itself.
¿Cómo alguien puede decir que el mejor momento de esta bodega ha pasado hace tiempo? ¡Qué error! Este vino, al que aún le queda un largo recorrido: de color cereza, es cremoso, lleno de aromas mentolados y de eucalipto; le acompañan unos taninos suaves y sedosos. No hay atisbos de excesos en madera o alcohol. Un botella redonda para beber por sí sola.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I almost couldn't believe they were pouring '98s instead of something more current, but I ended up being very happy with it. Garnet color, with wonderful aromas of cedar, violets, red fruit and fresh herbs. Deep, brooding dark fruit flavors on the palate, bolstered by cedar and spice undertones. In a really nice spot right now, and should hold there for a while too. Impressive. 92-93+ pts. $70.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Started with black pepper, cherry, currant, dust and a bit of fennel on the finish. Nice tannins. As it sat in the glass, plum emerged, as did cola, some vanilla. Nice long finish. Drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep dark plum, cherry, currant fruit...complexed with leather, mocha, dried herbs, dusty cherry wood. Oozes Heitz all over! Still big, tannic....seems to have a great structure to age at least 10 more years. Love the "greenness" in this wine....mint/euc/tobacco leaves. Has the richness of coffee, dark chocolate...to balance it out nicely. Heitz + "off" Vintage = love love love! Nobody does it better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking well, but will improve with more time. Give this a couple of hours in the decanter if you drink it now. For me, a good example to counter the conventional wisdom that '98 Napa cabs all suck. This is hardly a blockbuster bottle in terms of price, but it delivers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/10/2022 - pbaek wrote:
My last bottle unfortunately. In a sweet spot now, there’s still plenty of blue and black fruit combined with tertiary flavors of tobacco, leather, sous bois. Napa origins showing through, but this is cool, upright and strict. Great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2020 - NMWineLovers wrote: 88 Points
Good thing we opened this bottle. Cork fell apart. Aerated and hope it will open up. Hot and strong tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2019 - Vitis Maximus wrote: 90 Points
Wasn't expecting much as this was misread as a 2002 vs the actual vintage of 1998 (Common error with Heitz labeling). It still delivered in an unexpected way. I was time pressed so double decanted it to and from the bottle with my Winebreather Carafe. Earthy and dusty. Lots of tannins, sort of Brunello from Rutherford.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2018 - dpolzien Likes this wine: 92 Points
Took a flyer on this at a Spectrum Auction ... glad I did, still singing after nearly 20 years, with the stuffing to go several more. Would definitely seek out again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2016 - pbaek wrote:
Took about an hour to open up and when it did, wow. There's still so much dark fruit here, it's so restrained and well knit together and behind there's flavors of tobacco, leather, forest. The tannins are soft and smooth, no edges. There's enough material here to keep this going for many, many years. Californian Cabernet at its best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2014 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 95 Points
I've had this wine many times…and I think this is the best its been. Heitz just killed it in the off Vintage 98. Direct from the Winery on release….this bottle is showing very youthful with dark dried cherry, currant, plum skin fruit…..wonderful earth tones, dusty cedar wood, dried herbs, old leather, tobacco leaf, coffee……still solid in structure, yet has a pretty smooth texture to it….refined dusty tannins. Not as much "Heitz" mint or euc…..but does show some herb. A little aged nuttiness as well…..just SO damn tasty, old school here…..LOVE this stuff!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2013 - Connek wrote: 90 Points
Opened up with time...30 minutes. No bricking and fantastic color. Earth notes, pencil lead and some fruit. Last two bottles will need to be finished off soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2013 - RJurman wrote: 84 Points
This wine is on the downward slide. It is still drinkable, but the fruit has faded and it won't last much longer. If you have these, drink them now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2013 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine:
Great bottle!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2013 - Tmurphrey wrote: 92 Points
Additional comment in previous note, needed 20 minutes to open nicely. After 45 minutes it was about a 94 rated wine. It began to fade after about an hour and lost some of its strength. A very good wine but ready now. Do not believe it will get better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2013 - Tmurphrey wrote: 92 Points
- Brick color and aromas of black pepper. It's in total harmony and has flavours of dusty with a medium/full body. Leathery texture with a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2012 - Cardinalscientific wrote: 91 Points
Very solid Cali Cab that is so consistent it is one of my favorite go to selections. I have a couple of bottles left, which I will drink soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2012 - nschmidt wrote: 91 Points
Drank at Culinariane. Delicious with the short rib.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2011 - jfarley3 wrote: 91 Points
Excellent, drinking well with notes of leather, clay, cassis, tea, and a hint of raisin. Full yet soft with lasting finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2011 - Grape_ape wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured at a BYO restaurant. Drinking really well. Complex nose of red fruit, cedar, tobacco. Black and red currant on the palate, aromatics also carry over to the flavor profile. Lots of secondary characteristics have developed, but still has a good amount of fruit left. Incredible balance. Sadly I wish more california producers made this style of wine, at only 13.5% alcohol.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2011 - nschmidt wrote: 90 Points
Very smooth cab that is drinking very nicely now. Nothing really special though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2011 - Nancy&Chris wrote: 90 Points
drank this along with the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 trailside. The 2000 was the best in show, but this was a close 2nd
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2011 - lhickey wrote: 88 Points
Remarkable colour for its age, red fruit, vanilla, tropicana, hawiian tropic nose, not a lot of secondary aromas. Med to full bodied, still fresh, next to a bunch of 06, 07's it certainly didn't stand out as a mature wine. Still drinking well, don't expect it will improve but certainly not dead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2010 - msitka999 wrote: 91 Points
Not the best Heitz I've had, but a nice drinking wine. Thin legs, a bit watery, hints of smoke, muddled pecans, piano keys and Ipod headphones. Drink now to avoid disappointment
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2010 - handymom wrote:
Probably past prime. I like a little more fruit on the palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2010 - AGenochio wrote: flawed
corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2010 - JayAAllen wrote: 87 Points
Decanted for two to three hours. Still a little tannic. Perhaps could have benefited from some additional bottle time. Thin mouth feel. Very good, not great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2010 - RJurman wrote: 93 Points
Same as my original post. Bordeaux style Cali Cab that is drinking very well. Mine showed no evidence of breaking down. Still nice tannins and just outright delicious. Love it!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2010 - MDRwinos wrote: 92 Points
mature and smooth drinking yet still full bodied, but not over the top. Decanted for :45 which helped a great deal. Don't wait much longer to open if you own a bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2010 - MDRwinos wrote: 89 Points
Once decanted, a smoother cab + improved the 2nd day so consider giving it a couple of hours before drinking on day one. Surprisingly, not a great deal of depth for a Heitz Trailside but a pleasurable nose and interesting mix of tastes without too much oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2010 - mrfroopy wrote: 91 Points
This is really a wonderful fully aged Cali Cab.. I was worried about TCA from talk about this era here or something, but instead treated to a great perfectly wonderful, balanced ready to drink wine. Dense, chewy.. don't hold too much longer thou, if you have some.
Bravo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2009 - spendergast wrote: 93 Points
I haven't tried this wine for over a year - it is still tasting great: dark fruit, cassis, leather with hint of minerality and vanilla, soft tannins. The '98 Trailside remains my clear favorite as opposed to Martha's vineyard and Bella Oaks. This wine is probably fully matured, but should drink very well for another 3-5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2009 - Bob in NC wrote: 90 Points
We really enjoyed this wonderful Bordeaux style wine that was nicely balanced, smooth drinking, with nice mouth feel and no oak. While it is not overly complex it has a gorgeous nose of leather, tobacco and molasses that lead to elegant integrated flavors of burnt cherry, leather, mild cigar smoke, molasses and short sweet light tannic finish. While there is no reason to hold this wine longer it could ride for a couple more years. We really loved it!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2009 - Coleman wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at the winery. Very good wine. Nice cabernet nose, which follows through to the sturdy, focused palate. Cassis, black cherry, still with some tannins suggesting it will last at least a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2009 - Krugsters wrote: 93 Points
Magnificent old world style subtle cab. Highly recommend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2009 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Refined bouquet with dark forest fruits, cedar, sweet spices and some earth. Same on the palate with sweet and ripe cassis, pleasant acidity, soft tannin and a long finish. Really good. Can age a few years as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2009 - AMM3RD wrote: 91 Points
91-92 Pts. This is the style Napa Cab I like. Good fruit on a solid frame, without any of the extraction, oak or sweetness of most modern stuff. Red fruits. This has fresh minerality and is very youthful. Was great with Polish Kilbasa on the grill. Drink now and over the next 3-5 years...AMM
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2009 - RJurman wrote: 92 Points
Initially tasted at a Zachy's tasting. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine but held my tasting note until I could give it a fair review. Decanted 3 hours. Definitely not a new world California cab here. In fact, this wine is more Bordeaux like than Cal Cab. No oak present. A bit of a vegetable on the palate but not too much. Medium bodied with a nice finish. I really enjoyed this wine. Ready to drink but still has the structure to last for years to come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2009 - dke wrote: 90 Points
Napa February 2009; 2/16/2009-2/20/2009: This was very good and even though it was quite well integrated it would use several more years in the bottle. Some roasted meat component on top of regular cabernet flavors in a medium body package. 90-91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2009 - AMM3RD wrote: 92 Points
92-93 Points. This is still a very young wine.
Made in a classic napa/old world style. Medium color and weight. Fresh fruit and balance. Cassis and red fruits. Drink over the next 5 years.
Recommended...a style I enjoy...AMM
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2008 - crg wrote: 90 Points
Fantastic cab with lots of dried fruit and plum. Drinking wonderfully and should definitely be enjoyed within the next year
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2008 - aaronwine wrote: 94 Points
Great vino! Very well balanced and drinking beautifully. Dark berries, plum and cherry with red roses, hints of spice and subtle vanilla. The finish sings and lingers for several seconds. Highly recommend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2008 - Harley1199 wrote: 95 Points
Visiting Napa & All Around; 8/2/2008-8/18/2008 (California - USA): How can someone say that the best moment of this wine cellar has passed time ago? What an error! This wine, to have still a long way to go: cherry colour, is creamy, full of mentholated and eucalyptus fragances; some silky and smooth tannins accompanying. There is not glimpses of excesses in wood or alcohol. A round bottle to drink by itself.
¿Cómo alguien puede decir que el mejor momento de esta bodega ha pasado hace tiempo? ¡Qué error! Este vino, al que aún le queda un largo recorrido: de color cereza, es cremoso, lleno de aromas mentolados y de eucalipto; le acompañan unos taninos suaves y sedosos. No hay atisbos de excesos en madera o alcohol. Un botella redonda para beber por sí sola.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2008 - Cortona5 wrote: 92 Points
still big and tasty. ready to drink but fantastic. drank next to 98 marthas vineyard and bella oaks..loved them all but this one was the clear winner
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2008 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
I almost couldn't believe they were pouring '98s instead of something more current, but I ended up being very happy with it. Garnet color, with wonderful aromas of cedar, violets, red fruit and fresh herbs. Deep, brooding dark fruit flavors on the palate, bolstered by cedar and spice undertones. In a really nice spot right now, and should hold there for a while too. Impressive. 92-93+ pts. $70.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2008 - spendergast wrote: 94 Points
Dark plum, cherry and currant with notes of wet earth, subtle floral elements. Silky tannins with nice finish. Drinking very well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2007 - nick&nora wrote:
Started with black pepper, cherry, currant, dust and a bit of fennel on the finish. Nice tannins. As it sat in the glass, plum emerged, as did cola, some vanilla. Nice long finish. Drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2007 - ove wrote: 94 Points
Wow, what I surprise. Didn't expect much at all from this bottle but it turned out great and definitely improved over an hour or so in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2007 - Mrbuzz wrote: 94 Points
Deep dark plum, cherry, currant fruit...complexed with leather, mocha, dried herbs, dusty cherry wood. Oozes Heitz all over! Still big, tannic....seems to have a great structure to age at least 10 more years. Love the "greenness" in this wine....mint/euc/tobacco leaves. Has the richness of coffee, dark chocolate...to balance it out nicely. Heitz + "off" Vintage = love love love! Nobody does it better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2007 - MBannon wrote: 94 Points
Very smooth and scrumptous. A little heat gives it a nice varnish aroma. Elegant wine, drinking well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2007 - kmforster wrote:
Drinking well, but will improve with more time. Give this a couple of hours in the decanter if you drink it now. For me, a good example to counter the conventional wisdom that '98 Napa cabs all suck. This is hardly a blockbuster bottle in terms of price, but it delivers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2003 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 91 Points
Lovely nose. Quite bright, youthful, pure fruit. Light, elegant. Ripe fruit, but no tendency to jamminess at all. Very Good Indeed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment