Heitz Martha's Vineyard

Y

Yixin

Yixin
So, having had the '75 recently and the '76 tonight, I have to admit I'm impressed. Recognisably Californian and well-structured, tasty throughout dinner. Stood up well in august company - '04 CFE, '04 G. Roulot Mersault "Les Tessons Clos de mon Plaisir", '32 Barbeito Boal.

My question is - how are the recent vintages? I thought the '98 was good but found it difficult to get a handle on.
 
originally posted by Yixin:
Heitz Martha's VineyardSo, having had the '75 recently and the '76 tonight, I have to admit I'm impressed. Recognisably Californian and well-structured, tasty throughout dinner. Stood up well in august company - '04 CFE, '04 G. Roulot Mersault "Les Tessons Clos de mon Plaisir", '32 Barbeito Boal.

My question is - how are the recent vintages? I thought the '98 was good but found it difficult to get a handle on.
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The vineyard, and all their others, was uprooted and replanted in the '90s, thanks to phylloxera. The young vines didn't produce wines of the same depth or structure. Winemaking practices may very well have changed with the death of Joe Heitz, too, but who cares given the pricing?

Mark Lipton
 
Yixin, I last had one about a year ago. It was the 1992, which I think was one of the last vintages before the re-planting. I've had one or two more recent vintages (can't recall which, exactly) and they have a ways to go before matching the quality of that 1992, which was really youthful yet finely expressive. FWIW, one almost had to be searching for the mint/eucalyptus notes on that vitnage to bring them forward.

-Michael
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
Which were the years with the TCA problem?
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I thought that was more of a Montelena and Hanzell issue. I didn't realize there had been a Heitz run of TCA.

Anyone have the Grignolino recently?

I have this great picture of Joe Heitz laughing in an old Sunset California Wine book I bought second hand.
 
These are some of my favorite Cali wines. The newer ones don't show the same breed as the ones from before the replanting, but maybe it will come as the vineyard ages. Look for the '86 if you want to try one more "recent" - flies under the radar 'cuz the vintage isn't reputed to be anything tremendous in California but it's an excellent Martha's.
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
originally posted by SFJoe:
Which were the years with the TCA problem?
Click to expand...

I thought that was more of a Montelena and Hanzell issue. I didn't realize there had been a Heitz run of TCA.

Anyone have the Grignolino recently?

I have this great picture of Joe Heitz laughing in an old Sunset California Wine book I bought second hand.
Click to expand...
I think it was more the late '80s, but hope someone has a clearer recollection than mine.

Old Joe was not renowned for his enlightened employment [eta] practices, btw.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
originally posted by SFJoe:
Which were the years with the TCA problem?
Click to expand...

I thought that was more of a Montelena and Hanzell issue. I didn't realize there had been a Heitz run of TCA.

Anyone have the Grignolino recently?

I have this great picture of Joe Heitz laughing in an old Sunset California Wine book I bought second hand.
Click to expand...
I think it was more the late '80s, but hope someone has a clearer recollection than mine.

Old Joe was not renowned for his enlightened employment possibilities, btw.
Click to expand...
Late 1980s sounds right -- I recall tasting some of Heitz's wine at an event and commenting that it was corked and Joe just smiled and didn't say anything; I was surprised at the time that he didn't offer to open another bottle. The people who invited me to that event left the scene sometime around 1990 or shortly thereafter.
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
originally posted by SFJoe:
Which were the years with the TCA problem?
Click to expand...

I thought that was more of a Montelena and Hanzell issue. I didn't realize there had been a Heitz run of TCA.

Anyone have the Grignolino recently?

I have this great picture of Joe Heitz laughing in an old Sunset California Wine book I bought second hand.
Click to expand...

I drink the Grignolino and the Grignolino rose on a regular basis. I think that they are both excellent values and delicious, distinct wines of character. Heitz also makes a couple of Ports from Grignolino.
 
CFE '04 open but why waste it now? It was part of corkage deal I struck with resto - we brought the Heitz and Barbeito, and bought wines off their list. Thought the Roulot was fantastic, but then I love the combination of Chardonnay and expensive oak.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
originally posted by SFJoe:
Which were the years with the TCA problem?
Click to expand...

I thought that was more of a Montelena and Hanzell issue. I didn't realize there had been a Heitz run of TCA.

Anyone have the Grignolino recently?

I have this great picture of Joe Heitz laughing in an old Sunset California Wine book I bought second hand.
Click to expand...
I think it was more the late '80s, but hope someone has a clearer recollection than mine.

Old Joe was not renowned for his enlightened employment [eta] practices, btw.
Click to expand...
I left a 85 or 86 Heitz Martha with Brad Kane when we were just there, didn't want to bother shipping back to CA. Mid 80s there was some chemical problems with many of Heitz's red wines. Joe was not known for his clean barrels, so quality in many of his wines was hit and miss.
I sat with Joe for a couple of wine events, he could be a litle bit of a reprobate at times. He had his own ideas on things and didn't give a s--- about what other people thought. Kinda fun to be around at times.
 
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