Heitz Cellar
Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
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.
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, 2016
Last of the five red wines and final of the Heitz Cellars. After tasting all three guessed that this was the oldest one.
Deep garnet red with bricking on the edges. Layered nose of toast, pepperoni, bell peppers, dirty, truffles, damp forest floor and a bit of red cherries. Medium tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus body. Red fruits on the palate with toasty and earthy notes, tree bark, spices and a touch of blue fruits. Well rounded and integrated. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2021.
Very impressed with this wet and cool vintage.
Last of the five red wines and final of the Heitz Cellars. After tasting all three guessed that this was the oldest one.
Deep garnet red with bricking on the edges. Layered nose of toast, pepperoni, bell peppers, dirty, truffles, damp forest floor and a bit of red cherries. Medium tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus body. Red fruits on the palate with toasty and earthy notes, tree bark, spices and a touch of blue fruits. Well rounded and integrated. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2021.
Very impressed with this wet and cool vintage.
Eucalyptus, bay... Smells like a drive down 29 in late summer. More vibrant primary fruit... Red? At first, yes. Just opened. This should be a fun story.
Eucalyptus, bay... Smells like a drive down 29 in late summer. More vibrant primary fruit... Red? At first, yes. Just opened. This should be a fun story.
Oct 25th, 2014
What an enjoyable wine, very integrated with dark fruits and licorice and a smooth finish. This bottle was recorked years ago. This is my last bottle of several I bought years ago and the best one by far. I guess it needed all 22 years to come around.
What an enjoyable wine, very integrated with dark fruits and licorice and a smooth finish. This bottle was recorked years ago. This is my last bottle of several I bought years ago and the best one by far. I guess it needed all 22 years to come around.
Oct 3rd, 2020
Hard to find Cali wine that ages as well as Heitz.
Hard to find Cali wine that ages as well as Heitz.
Apr 12th, 2020
Ronnie had this 12 years ago
Ronnie had this 12 years ago
Dec 23rd, 2012