Ming L

9.2

A left bank blend from Veneto. Ripe black plum, cassis, dried fig, nutmeg, pencil shavings, and dark chocolate. Rich smooth palate that at times feels like drinking a Ripasso. But there are enough fruits and acidity left for balance. Mellow tannins still has baby teeth.
Nice find. — a year ago

Chris Shultz

9.0

50% Syrah, 40% Carignan, 10% Cinsault. Meaty, smoky, kind of funky, savory umami nose. My wife says onion/garlic savoriness and earthiness. Has black olive brininess, minerals, tomatoey iron, and herbs on the finish: oregano among them. Not a lot of fruit but the fruits are plums, some figs, dried blueberries and blackberries. Interesting. Tannic, but the tannins are smooth and teeth coating now. Needs some food but I already ate today. The fruit sweetens with air and gets more cherry like. Small amount of Brett comes out too. I’ll finish it with lunch tomorrow and update my notes. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

When in doubt, a sure bet is a well aged, good vintage Heitz. @Eric Shanks

I intended to grab an 06 but, mistakenly grabbed an 07. I’ve not had one of my 06’s yet...next weekend.

The one thing I do every time I open one of my ten year or older Heitz Napa Cabernet’s is smile & think, this was sub $35 at Costco. It’s the wine feeling/definition of stealing candy from babies.

The nose is a beautiful harmony of fruit, earth and florals. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, dark spices with violets palate heat, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay, understated herbs & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, some sage & bay leaf, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is splendid. The long, ripe, ruby, lush, elegant, well crafted balance of fruit & earth is delicious and persists endlessly with a dark spice on the long set.

The body is; delightful, ripe, rich, lush & full. The structure, tension, length and balance are woven in a perfect tapestry. This 07 has another 10-15 years easily. The tannins are rounded, smooth but, still have a dark, chewy, tarriness with baby teeth. The beauty of the vintage is on full display. Steeped, somewhat stewed, candied fruits of; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, mix of purple fruits; boysenberries, ollieberries, & mulberries. Dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, touch of incense, fire ambers, chocolate pudding, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, dark & milk chocolate, caramel, sweet, soft, dark spice, dark berry cola, dark cherry kirsch, dark, rich earth, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, dry top soil, moist clay & dry brush, brewed coffee, mint, tobacco, dry, old leather with amazing, fresh & slightly withering & candied ; dark, red, blue, purple with a violet & lavender frame. The acidity is perfect. The finish is; rich, ripe, ruby, candied, well balanced fruit & earth, elegant and long sets into velvety, round tannins and mid dark spices.

Photos of; the winery, tasting patio, old basket press and wide shot of the winery & Estate vines. — 4 years ago

Jonathan Wall

8.9

It’s like an awkward bully of a wine. Big and dense. Teeth staining. Almost all Syrah CDR. With a lot of air it behaves. And while it’s not priced to age, I suspect a few years will do it some good. — 2 years ago

B

8.9

2018. Synthetic cork. Plum red. Black cherry nose. Tannic, could breath a bit. Splitting wood, chocolate, black currant, oak, acid on teeth. — 3 years ago

with Wendy

Paul J

9.4

1 hour plus decant. Dark purple color. Nose and wine were a mix of Bordeaux and Napa. Wine was fruit forward with dark cherry. Very young wine that coats your teeth. Little bit of a rough finish with some tartness and pepper. Probably needs 7+ yrs. — 4 years ago

with Brooke

Severn Goodwin

9.3

Nose has very dark chocolate, roasted coffee bean, blackberry-blueberry mash, rose petals, slight mint, crushed black cherry and wet slate.

Palate has warmed plum, chocolate cake, vanilla tobacco, light cedar and light oak. Surprisingly the tannins are quite mellow, easily approachable in a very, very youthful state.

A very heavy bottle, you could easily knock someone into tomorrow with a well timed swing.

We paired with delightfully thick bone-in ribeye's on the grill, actually a great pair with a nice sear/char from a wicked hot grill (+600°F). Delicious, local grass fed cattle.

Suckling, 99 points...Really? No one should be this drinking this before 2025, at least. I guess I have at least a baseline on what he thinks is the greatest Purple Angel to date. I agree, it is very good, but needs a lot of time, we have several, older vintages in the cellar just waiting for the right time.

I will certainly need to brush my teeth at least 2x after enjoying this wine. I'll have a 24hr check-in tomorrow, we're not finishing this on day one.

24hr Update: Mint has dropped out on the nose, palate is a wonderful blackberry-cedar jam, delicious, still not 99 points. — 5 years ago

Charles Garrison

9.3

We have one or 2 left; and I hope each shows as well; teeth staining, palate coating black cherry and raspberry wonder that left us fighting over the last drops — 2 years ago

Matthew Youngs

9.0

Smooth with somewhat high acidity. Note to self: brush teeth afterwards, lest it eat your enamel. But the taste is worth it; cherries, darker fruit, a bit of vanilla... That'll do. Kind of reminds me of the underappreciated (in my opinion) Barbera. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

2002 is such a beautiful vintage IMHO. In many ways, I think even better than 07. We’ll see in five years from now as I lack a time machine.

I’ve said this a couple of times over my nearly 4,200 Delectable notes. There is no amount of decanting a young wine that can reproduce the beauty, elegance, florals, integration, balance and finish as long bottle age. If you are buying expensive Cabernets and drinking them young, you are simply short changing yourself out of your deep investment.

This largely under known Napa producer is a shining example of that tonight. Proof in the pudding so to speak.

The nose reveals, sweet, ripe, lush, ruby, slightly baked/liqueured fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum, understated blueberries and baked strawberries haunt the backend. Dark Asian & Indian spices, black licorice to anise, sweet tarriness, black tea, dark expresso, crushed dry rocks, limestone minerals, herbal notes, mint, incense, graphite, dark chocolate, caramel & mocha, dry top soil, moist clay, dark rich, turn earth with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue flowers & just a touch of violets.

The body is; round, rich & luxurious. The tannins still have baby teeth and show chewy tarriness. The tension, structure, length and balance have hit their peak. It’s not going to improve, it will simply show you descending changes which, can be quite enjoyable but, not necessarily for the ones that appreciate wines young. Interesting, none the less, for the ones that enjoy all sides/aspects of wine evolution. Sweet, ripe, lush, ruby, slightly baked/liqueured fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum, mulberries, boysenberries, more blue fruits than the nose, cherries and baked strawberries haunt the backend. Dark Asian & Indian spices with just the right amount of heat, black licorice to anise, sweet tarriness, black tea, dark expresso, crushed dry rocks, limestone minerals, herbal notes, mint, graphite, dark chocolate, caramel & mocha, dry top soil, moist clay, dark rich, turn earth, fresh tobacco, suede style leather, saddle-wood with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple, blue flowers & just a touch of violets. The ABV on this wine is really nice given today’s hotter wines. Climate change, it’s a bitch. The round acidy is as good as it gets. The long, excellent, elegant, rich, ripe, ruby, gorgeous, sexy, floral, perfectly balanced finish falls into persistent heaven.

This is a gorgeous example of what Napa Valley is capable of in grand vintages, if you have good storage & can show patience.

Photos of; an arial view of Jones Family Winery, patio tasting area, beautiful Jones Family Cabernet fruit and their amazing vineyards. — 4 years ago