TN: 1969...DP, Heitz, Freemark Abbey, Yquem

[S_Stevenson]

Continued the big 5-0 celebration last fri night with the local fellas. I’ve had a smattering of birth year wines over the years…but this flight was by far the best yet! Will add the other wines later on. Thanks again guys!!


[*]1969 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon C-91 - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/12/2019)
The story goes that when Joe Heitz came close to running out of selling the reg Napa bottling, and the precious Martha’s was still resting in barrel, he would dip into the Martha barrels and bottle this wine, the C-91, so he could continue to sell wine to his loyal customers.
Little concern for this bottle as the ullage was down to the shoulder…but after the cork came out in one piece…the wine was in fine shape! Still quite dark and youthful looking…amply fruit with slight sweetness…plum, currants, dried cherry…soft and delicate structure with a beautiful polished sheen…very complex, showing classic Heitz mint/euc/dried herbs nuances…dusty old cellar cedar spice…leather, mixed nuts…drank well till the end. (95 pts.)
6A29BE79-D2EC-496D-99BC-D656882EF96C.jpeg

Posted from CellarTracker

Joe’s 69 MV was his masterpiece (according to Joe) and he handpicked the best barrels of MV for the MV bottling that year and the rest went into the C-91(as was his custom until '74 when ALL the MV went into the MV bottling). Of course, his son made the '74 (Joe was in the hospital with a bad back) so there’s that as well. Also, all of the '71 MV went into the regular Napa bottling without and specific lot #.

[Brad_Baker]

If it was foil and not the old plastic capsules, then it wasn’t an original disgorgement. Any DP pre-1970 that has foil isn’t an original disgorgement even though it doesn’t say RD, or Oenotheque etc. I don’t know exactly when they started stamping the labels with R.D. but there were quite a few years that the '69’s had no label marking.
It makes more sense that your bottle showed so well because I’ve found most of the true '69 OD’s that I’ve had in the past 10-15 years to have seen better days and bottles like yours to be much fresher.

Ray,

I think DP actually started using foil with some of the original 1969 releases. I don’t know the exact ratio of the two or timing, but I’m pretty sure the 1969 was originally released in both plastic and foil and both styles went out to most markets depending on disgorgement and labeling. Now, obviously, there is no easy way to tell for many bottles with foil if it is an original or late release.

[Ray.Tuppa_sch]

If it was foil and not the old plastic capsules, then it wasn’t an original disgorgement. Any DP pre-1970 that has foil isn’t an original disgorgement even though it doesn’t say RD, or Oenotheque etc. I don’t know exactly when they started stamping the labels with R.D. but there were quite a few years that the '69’s had no label marking.
It makes more sense that your bottle showed so well because I’ve found most of the true '69 OD’s that I’ve had in the past 10-15 years to have seen better days and bottles like yours to be much fresher.

Ray,

I think DP actually started using foil with some of the original 1969 releases. I don’t know the exact ratio of the two or timing, but I’m pretty sure the 1969 was originally released in both plastic and foil and both styles went out to most markets depending on disgorgement and labeling. Now, obviously, there is no easy way to tell for many bottles with foil if it is an original or late release.

Brad,

You may be correct, but I’m relaying what Richard told me years ago.
Also, anecdotally, almost every '69 DP with foil has been far fresher and superior to the other capsule.

[paul_hanna]

A perfect bottle of '69 Dom Oeno still probably the greatest Champagne I have had…

[Ray.Tuppa_sch]

A perfect bottle of '69 Dom Oeno still probably the greatest Champagne I have had…

In 2008 I brought a bottle of it - disgorged in 2006 - to start off a La Tache vertical including 8-10 good to great vintages.

The DP was the unanimous wine of the night.

[Jonathan_Favre]

Yummmy - '69 DP Oeno! Happy bday Buzz - keep celebrating my friend. CHEERS