Neil Valenzuela

9.6

Winemaker Jesse Katz knocks Malbec out of the park! Deep purple, inky color. Aromas of plum, blueberry, lavender and cocoa. Incredible flavors of black and blue fruit, chocolate, tobacco and spice finish.

🏅99 Points - International Wine Report
🏅95 Points - Robert Parker — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

92 is rounding up a bit.

A couple things before notes. I have had other Heidi wines but not hers & Bo’s. Just wasn’t feeling retail-ish on the B&B, nor had anyone open one for me. This surfaced at just under half price. So, time to check this Heidi box.

This is a 2017; which many shied away from. Hence, the buy at half price. I would have said in my two coravined previous tastings on different nights, the fruit was nice and it still is nice. However, in getting to the bottom 1/3 of the bottle, it has taken on some additional depth & character. I imagine still not as much depth & character as their better vintages.

The nose shows some nice candied florals and mid fruits with a dark core. Some smoke (it is not smoke taint as they finished harvesting on 10/3 and the Tubbs & Atlas fires started 10/8) dry tobacco, new leather, oak, dry herbs, darker cola, moist volcanics & clay, withering dark & red flowers.

The palate is definitely one of the drier Napa Cabernets I’ve had lately. Feels like it leaves dry oak powder all over your mouth. M+ dry tannins. The fruits are bright & ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, some purple fruits, lean strawberries & cherries. Smoke, dry tobacco, new leather, oak, dark spice, leaner baking spices profile, a bit of dark chocolate baking bar, dry herbs, darker cola, moist volcanics & clay, dry topsoil, dry limestone powder, black tea, dry tree bark w/ a touch of sap, withering dark & red flowers, acidity is sound-ish, it just ticks the box of balanced, tension & structure is solid, finishes short-under a minute and a little thin in the mid palate, some elegance and lands on oak, earthiness & spice.

It’s still early on this and there is room for improvement with some more evolution & integration but don’t believe this 2017 will ever live up to its winery price point. — 8 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.6

Dark ink color. Aromas of blackberry, dried lavender and scorched earth. Pencil lead, black fruit flavors and strong tannins.

🍇 65 % Malbec, 35% Cab

🏅99 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
🏅98 Points - Robert Parker — 2 months ago

k

8.9

Balanced with front fruit and decent body. No overpowering aspects. — 6 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2022 | frivolous ánd powerfull — 2 years ago

Ryan Carver

9.0

95’ in 2023. Was incredibly good especially for the price. Needed to stand open for an hour~ish — 3 years ago

Sam Shaffer

9.0

Delicious. Was gifted this by my wifey and this wine didn’t disappoint. Decant it for a bit if you can- a little bite right out of the bottle but as it aerates it becomes smooth as butter — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2018 vintage. Last tasted 6.2.23 (9.4). Dropped both a little body and oomph but still desirable. 12.5.25. — 5 months ago

John Roselli

9.3

Earthy, not heavy. A prototypical field blend, this one is well-integrated (had the’15) with dark berry, spice, and leather. Looks like it should be a heavy-duty blockbuster, but is medium-bodied, almost silky, and quaffable. — 3 years ago

ESF

9.0

So consistent - found this on closeout for $6.99 if you can believe it! Gold-ish, gorgeous darkened by age but nose was fresh w/ripe yellow orchard fruit, minerals & stones, bit of citrus. Smooth a bit fattened up on palate, angular firm acidic backbone w/flavors confirmed from nose. Just delicious — 3 years ago