1985 Heitz Bella Oaks

[RAD]

Anyone tried this wine recently? I'm going to uncork a bottle in about 2 1/2 hours--my wife is coming home from a business trip, so we're going to have a nice dinner. Bought a few bottles of it on winebid.com a few months ago, and have yet to open any, so I was wondering...

In any event, I'll post a tasting note (perhaps from memory tomorrow) [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

RAD

[Bucko]

I've had the Martha's in the last year, but not the Bella Oaks. I look forward to your notes.

Bucko

[RAD]

A bit over the hill, in my view. Deep clear brick/maroon color. "Older" cabernet nose, with cassis, cherry, wet earth, and cedar continue onto the palate; still, a bit insipid, compared to the more youthful cabernets I've been drinking of late. Medium body. Fine tannins. Elegant, like an old lady, but already peaked, in my opinion.

But with food--WOW!--it was as if each of these flavors got a turbo boost. I know wine is always better with food, but never in my life have I noticed such a stark difference. It was as if the food revitalized the wine.

RAD

[RAD]

A bit over the hill, in my view. Deep clear brick/maroon color. "Older" cabernet nose, with cassis, cherry, wet earth, and cedar continuing onto the palate; still, a bit insipid, compared to the more youthful cabernets I've been drinking of late. Medium body. Fine tannins. Elegant, like an old lady, but already peaked, in my opinion.

But with food--WOW!--it was as if each of these flavors got a turbo boost. I know wine is always better with food, but never in my life have I noticed such a stark difference. It was as if the food revitalized the wine.

Bucko, how does this compare to the '85 Martha's?

RAD

[RAD]

Just found out how NOT to edit a post. I wanted to change "continue" to "continuing" in the post above, and add the query to Bucko, and simply hit the back error in IE 2x to get to the original message. Obviously, it simply added it (with the corrections) below the first attempt.

Apologies for the redundancy--

RAD

[Bucko]

Virtually the same as the Martha's, without mention of a trace of mint or eucalptus which Martha's is noted for.

Bucko