Napa Valley, California

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1978

Shay A
9.5

After missing a ‘70s and ‘80s Heitz vertical many years ago, I vowed to seek out a bottle as all the comments from the tasting were astoundingly positive. My last bottle of Heitz Martha’s was the ‘01 (which was great) a few years ago, but at 46yrs, this was quite the experience.

The ‘78 has a bit of a legendary status, so expectations were high. Upon opening, the cork was in good shape (sigh of relief) and the color was unbelievably dark ruby with some bricking (another sigh of relief). The singular signature menthol/eucalyptus began to fill the glass, alongside aromatics of red berry fruits, espresso, some sort of sweet brown sugar/caramel note, and a savory-graphite type note too. Beautifully elegant on the palate with more red fruit, herbs (bay leaf?), and even some pipe tobacco (subdued, not in your face), but it sports the classical old Napa cab profile that is pure. Spectacular wine, and I could simply smell the wine all day…the aromatics were so powerful the entire time.

Open in bottle for three hours and powered through the entire time. Wish I had another so I could have the same experience!
— 12 days ago

Severn, Vanessa and 29 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

These are awesome totally forgot which back vintages i had.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Yeah, some of those old-school, back vintages of Martha's Vyd don't exactly suck. Jelly.

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

+1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark ruby red color. On the nose: Intoxicating/intense nose of black fruit, dark currants, worn leather, forest floor, coffee grounds, minty dark chocolate. Taste: smooth, satiny, structured, balanced wine with chocolate covered brambly blackberry, tobacco, earth, cedar, black pepper, and a herbal licorice long finish. A medium body old world style wine that shows well right now and should continue to provide more years of enjoyable sipping. — 19 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Tom and 19 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

Why Not tasting, Celebrating life! — 6 days ago

Jan, Dick and 10 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Super sweet and oaky on first open but matured up with a 3 hour decant

Still quite fruity but with steak, it gives a lot of red berry fruit and the oak is reasonable and the sweetness is gone with the airtime.

Overall good wine but I thought it lost out to the Paul Hobbs LPV ‘14.
— 5 days ago

Bob, Andrew and 3 others liked this

Heitz Cellar

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1991

With a fantastic personal story our host Berry M shared this fantastic 33 year old bottle of Napa Cab. What a treat and experience. The wine still so pure and powerful. Lacking a bit of fruit but steady and gentle tertiary notes kicking in softly (leather…..).
Thanks for sharing!!
— 14 days ago

Eric Hoepelman
with Eric
Eric, Berry and 3 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1995

13.9% 1995 Caymus - wasn’t sure what to expect, this is drinking beautifully. A window into a past era of Napa in a great way. — 13 days ago

Lyle, Bob and 3 others liked this
David T

David T Influencer Badge

When Caymus was Caymus!!!

Shafer Vineyards

Hillside Select Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

2002 vintage. Last tasted 10.06.22 (9.4). Similar "gliding along" impressions with feminine characteristics. This bottle (nice fill, cork and decent sed) was a goody. Decanted and tasted after 5 mins, 30 mins and 2 hours. Bit more structure evident after two hours open as to be a different, yet fantastic, wine. Funny how some of these underwhelming, less than aggro wines can take on another life of their own, on their terms, by gently removing all doubt. Still another 5-7 years-easy. 11.21.24. — 14 days ago

Tom, Jan and 18 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

The closest thing to true Bordeaux style red blend from Napa. This wine really accentuates the vintage and the terroir, along with fruit and soil. The Dominus Estate manages the vineyard via dry farming, relying on nature for water, making a profound difference on great vintages such as 2016. Find a good vintage Dominus and you’re bound to have one of kind. Cheers. — 14 days ago

Adriana, Billy and 12 others liked this

Silver Oak

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

**Wine Review: 2008 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Opened November 2024)**

The 2008 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, opened today, showcases an impressive balance and complexity, affirming its status as a finely aged wine. Its deep ruby hue remains vibrant, with exceptional clarity that invites exploration.

On the nose, ripe aromas of blackberry syrup and dark fruits are prominent, complemented by elegant notes of dried ginger and a subtle floral undertone. These aromas suggest both maturity and freshness, creating a captivating bouquet.

The palate offers a bold, full-bodied experience, featuring flavors of graphite and pencil lead that add intrigue and depth. The oak is beautifully integrated, enhancing the wine's harmony without overshadowing the fruit. The tannins, while still present, are soft and smooth, allowing the wine’s fruity core to take center stage.

Despite its 16 years of aging, this wine retains a youthful vibrancy, with its primary fruit flavors shining through. The finish is balanced and moderate in intensity, leaving a lasting impression of refinement.

Enjoyed today, this wine is a testament to the careful craftsmanship of Silver Oak. While it has clearly benefited from its time in the cellar, it remains dynamic and will continue to develop nuances for years to come.
— 8 days ago

Melissa Kingman
with Melissa

Orin Swift

Papillon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

Good pairing with the prosciutto pizza. — 2 days ago

Joe, Ted and 3 others liked this