Noelle

9.2

Rich, smooth, complex & yummy — 10 days ago

Mary Madden

9.0

Firm acidity to support the rich apple, pear and citrus flavors and toasty oak component. — 8 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.6

Began in 1944, Mario Incisa acquired Cab Sauv & Franc vine cuttings, planted them on San Guido estate, called Castiglioncello, Sassicaia, "the place of many stones". A blend of 85% Cab Sauv, 15% Cab Franc. Lovely ripe fruit & spice aromas. Bold berry fruit flavors with spice, oak, leather & cacao, a powerhouse. Soft tannins allows current enjoyment. Long silky smooth fresh finish ending with fruit, oak and spice. Great now, will age, but drink now, outstanding. Little pricey at $300. Tasting Sample. — a month ago

Jess

9.7

Medium-deep ruby color.
Aromas of black cherry, leather, stewed tomato, cured meat, hard goat cheese.
Dry. Flavors of hard goat cheese, black cherry, peppercorn, leather, subtle clove. Medium-rich, chewy tannins. Notes are complex and vivid! Fantastic!

Intensity: 5/5
Complexity: 5/5
Balance: 5/5
Finish: 5/5 — 2 months ago

Amit Srivastava

9.4

Big bold. Wine was tight and would have benefitted from couple of hours decanting ! — 21 days ago

with Gunja and Norman

Jess

9.1

Deep ruby color.
Aromas of black cherry, oak spice.
Dry. Flavors of stewed black cherry, dried cherry, licorice, cedar, black raspberry. Rich, chewy tannins.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 3/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — a month ago

Vino Joe

9.6

Rich and layered. Bursting with ripe fruit this is a fast moving bottle. It doesn’t last very long. Ever sip is a treasure. The mix of the balanced grape selection with the Italian terrior gives this lots of heft and kick. I have had. A mixed success rate with this wine but this vintage is outstanding. — a month ago

Kyle

9.2

Cant tell which varietal this is. I believe Zinfandel blend? Very bold. Not spicy, but not profile. Lots of oak. Enjoying with thick New York cut. — 9 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Still remarkably youthful, it’s rich, dense and dark fruited, layered with classicism of cigar box, cedar and spices. The palate is concentrated and powerful with a silky texture and incredible length. 95 is nowhere near its peak. Many more years to go. And while I’ll never be a real Bordeaux lover, it’s clear what makes these first growths special. — 8 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Another excellent purchase from the Benchmark Bin Sale. I love these 15-20 year Heitz Napa Cabernets…97 the rule, not the exception. It had perfect storage and is at its peak and will hold for another 1-2 years and diminish over the following 3-5 years.

The nose is floral dark cherry kirsch. Both plums, blackberries, black raspberries, pomegranate, strawberry liqueur notes, steeped tea, red & dark cola/licorice, dark rich earth, sharp, dry herbs, black pepper, dry twig with dark & red fresh & slightly withering florals.

The palate is ripe fruits well balanced with earth. Perfect evolution & integration. Soft, elegant w/ nothing bitty. Dark currents with ripe, leaner, juicy, slightly liqueured; blackberries, black raspberries, late spring dark cherries, both plums, orange rune, raspberries & poached strawberries. Heavy Asian & Indian, dark spices, black licorice/cola, pure anise, steeped, black tea, touch of black olive, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanilla, dry tobacco, dry Provence herbs, barrel shavings, dry pipe tobacco/ash, some lead pencil, leathery, moist, grey, volcanic clay, crumbled limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry river stone, dry brush, grilled meats-Châteauneuf-du-Pape characteristics w/ ragging, withering florals that are dark, red, purple, rainfall acidity with excellent; structure, tension, balance, polished finish that does not end. Wire to wire consistency. Lucky to enjoy a well stored bottle of 97 with this age. — a month ago