Heitz Cellar
Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
Amazing fruit still alive. Cinnamon and spice.
Amazing fruit still alive. Cinnamon and spice.
Dec 31st, 2022
One of our last Heitz Bella Oaks bottling’s.
Heitz no longer leases the vineyard. The fruit from the Bella Oaks Vineyard is now bottled by Quintessa at $200 a bottle when Heitz sold it at around $70 or less when they leased the terroir.
The better pair with the end cut of the Prime Rib with creamy, horse radish.
Floral, candied, spice driven fruit of; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plums with tough skins, plums, dark cherries and deep, juicy strawberries. Dark tarriness, steeped black tea, incense, burnt amber, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, dark chocolate bar, mocha powder, moist clay, dry, crushed rocks, dry, twig, eucalyptus, sage, bay leaf, dry top soil, tobacco, leather, cedar, grainy limestone with dark, red, purple, candied withering florals that dark & candied. The acidity is perfect. The structure, tension, balance and length still need 6–10 years. The finish is; rich, beauty, elegant that starts, fresh, juicy falling on to earth & spice that persist until you have something bigger.
Plated with very cheesy Au Gratins & caramelized carrots.
Still an adolescent with 15-20 years of good sipping ahead of it.
The most flavorful piece of beef I’ve ever had. Had more tender Wagyu Ribcaps, just not this much flavor.
Happy New Year! 🥳🎉🍷🎊
12.31.2020
One of our last Heitz Bella Oaks bottling’s.
Heitz no longer leases the vineyard. The fruit from the Bella Oaks Vineyard is now bottled by Quintessa at $200 a bottle when Heitz sold it at around $70 or less when they leased the terroir.
The better pair with the end cut of the Prime Rib with creamy, horse radish.
Floral, candied, spice driven fruit of; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plums with tough skins, plums, dark cherries and deep, juicy strawberries. Dark tarriness, steeped black tea, incense, burnt amber, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, dark chocolate bar, mocha powder, moist clay, dry, crushed rocks, dry, twig, eucalyptus, sage, bay leaf, dry top soil, tobacco, leather, cedar, grainy limestone with dark, red, purple, candied withering florals that dark & candied. The acidity is perfect. The structure, tension, balance and length still need 6–10 years. The finish is; rich, beauty, elegant that starts, fresh, juicy falling on to earth & spice that persist until you have something bigger.
Plated with very cheesy Au Gratins & caramelized carrots.
Still an adolescent with 15-20 years of good sipping ahead of it.
The most flavorful piece of beef I’ve ever had. Had more tender Wagyu Ribcaps, just not this much flavor.
Happy New Year! 🥳🎉🍷🎊
12.31.2020
Completely resolved and so laid back. This was George Clooney in flip-flops and a T. Supple, sexy, and way beyond expectations. Drink up.
Completely resolved and so laid back. This was George Clooney in flip-flops and a T. Supple, sexy, and way beyond expectations. Drink up.
Jun 5th, 2019
Lush, bright, old school and awesome. Classic balance & fruit for days. Still going strong - easily could go another 10+.
Lush, bright, old school and awesome. Classic balance & fruit for days. Still going strong - easily could go another 10+.
May 13th, 2019
Another 4th Friday for the books!
The theme for this 4th Friday seemed to be old wines that hold their age well...this was no exception. Crazy that a wine this age (older than me!) can still have such color and fruit to it. Fruit was almost secondary and very dirty/dusty...mainly blackberry. Some old cranberry notes came out on the finish...secondary notes of barnyard and herbs. Aging gracefully.
Another 4th Friday for the books!
The theme for this 4th Friday seemed to be old wines that hold their age well...this was no exception. Crazy that a wine this age (older than me!) can still have such color and fruit to it. Fruit was almost secondary and very dirty/dusty...mainly blackberry. Some old cranberry notes came out on the finish...secondary notes of barnyard and herbs. Aging gracefully.
1992 decanted for 2 hours, phenomenal
1992 decanted for 2 hours, phenomenal
Mar 18th, 2018
2006 is the most underrated vintage in decades.
2006 is the most underrated vintage in decades.
Sep 16th, 2017The difficult thing about this wine is it's elegant and smooth, but lacks mouthfeel and structure that is the common flaw of the 98 vintage. I've had some nice 98's. Don't get me wrong, the 98 Staglin was was really nice as were a number of others. The 98 Bella Oaks is liquid milk chocolate, malt balls, black plummy dark fruit, eucalyptus, black olive, wet sweet dark earth, hint of nutmeg, vanilla extract, caramel, sweet saddlewood & tobacco, herbaceous spice, briney and a better finish than expected after a long taste. Better with each sip. You still sense it's a little alcohol hot even after all this time in bottle. It's a shame Heitz will no longer make the Bella Oaks after losing the vineyard lease. Look for the family that took it back to see how the wine is being produced. Hopefully, something special as it's a great piece of land that has produced some really nice fruit over it's many years.
The difficult thing about this wine is it's elegant and smooth, but lacks mouthfeel and structure that is the common flaw of the 98 vintage. I've had some nice 98's. Don't get me wrong, the 98 Staglin was was really nice as were a number of others. The 98 Bella Oaks is liquid milk chocolate, malt balls, black plummy dark fruit, eucalyptus, black olive, wet sweet dark earth, hint of nutmeg, vanilla extract, caramel, sweet saddlewood & tobacco, herbaceous spice, briney and a better finish than expected after a long taste. Better with each sip. You still sense it's a little alcohol hot even after all this time in bottle. It's a shame Heitz will no longer make the Bella Oaks after losing the vineyard lease. Look for the family that took it back to see how the wine is being produced. Hopefully, something special as it's a great piece of land that has produced some really nice fruit over it's many years.
2 people found it helpfulMar 26th, 2016There is a reason why I held on to this so long. This was bottled 11 years ago and is fantastic.
There is a reason why I held on to this so long. This was bottled 11 years ago and is fantastic.
2 people found it helpfulFeb 15th, 2016