As someone who has been a regular buyer and enthusiastic consumer of Ultramarine, I have followed this thread. My contribution is this. The 2019s are a bit different. The initial nose is off and while I don’t get asparagus, they do come across somewhat green. On day two this is gone and a decent sparkling wine is left. Still, the Rose is just not as good, the. Maras are unpleasant, and at this price I’m out. I bought some of the Cruise Rose and Sparkling Valdigué from their second level.
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Your thoughts on the 2019s line up with mine, though my judgment of the Mara is not as kind as yours.
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Checking back in on the 2019s, as I have bottles remaining of the Hirsch Rose, Keefer Ranch BdB, and Heintz BdN.
Much further up the thread, I posted that my wine industry friend and I popped the 2019 Hirsch Rose and poured it down the drain… an overly vegetal, jalapeno, “sparkling carmenere” mess. Gross, especially for a $100 bottle of sparkling wine.
I opened the 2019 Keefer Ranch BdB a few months ago and didn’t have any problems with it. Nice citrus, focused acidity, no flaws.
Lastly, I have two bottles of the 2019 Heintz BdN which I have not opened/tasted. Looks like David B. recently popped one, and while he didn’t love it, seems like the issues are more minor.
Thanks for the info on the 2019 Keefer.
I also have 2 bottles of the 2019 Heintz BdB. The question is where. 
I still haven’t opened any 2019 yet much less 2020. We just started cracking the 18’s.
We have 25 bottles of the 2018, 16 bottles of 2019, and 12 bottles of 2020. Gonna be a while before we get to open the 19’s.
Luckily I only 2 bottles of 2020 rose…what is the reason for the wine being shit? I remember my 2019 rose being very vegetal and thought it was just that one bottle. Such a shame I won’t be buying after 5 years of purchasing.
I would not have opened any 2018 or 2019s if not for the reports here.
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1000% agree. Im still on my 14’s (also holding some 12’s and 13’s - especially mags), but i generally prefer a bit more age on my sparklers
Feel sorry for you.
It’s because the grapes were co-fermented with asparagus, guacamole and a pack of Lucky Strikes.
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Don’t try to bargain with me, I know what I got. I’m going to get some premium action on these bottles!
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Well curiosity killed this cat and I opened a ’20 Heintz Rose tonight even though I swore to myself I would hold off until the next release. I did the WK method and decanted half and put the other half back in the fridge.
Immediately got asparagus and jalapeno on the nose and palate but it wasn’t terrible so I was hopeful it would blow off. A half hour later I took another sip and the asparagus/jalapeno was actually more pronounced WTF?!
2 hours in and the jalapeno is gone but the asparagus is still prominent. On the palate this has turned into more of a briney/pickled asparagus/green bean. Truly awful at this point.
3.5 hours in and finally the green nose has mostly gone away and there is more traditional flinty reductive nose. Ok maybe we are getting somewhere. On the palate, the greenness is still a little there but has greatly dissipated. However, there are no fruit or autolytic flavors whatsoever, just completely empty. Ugh - I don’t have hopes that this will develop into anything good. I also don’t get a sense that there was any contamination or anything - just that they may have tried to push the envelop and it’s not working out.
Will report back on the remaining half tomorrow……
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Alright if I am being honest, I don’t hate it now. Whether or not this is worth the ~$100 with shipping, that’s a different story.
Upon opening the bottle, the remaining portion was similar to the last glass last night - a faint asparagus/green bean on the nose/palate and no noticeable fruit. However, about 30 min in and I finally get the slightest hint of strawberry/raspberry and while the asparagus is still there, it’s no longer a distraction. I’m going to wait at least 2 more years to drink my last one but I may try a Heintz blanc de blanc sometime soon. Truly perplexing wine.
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I know it’s a way back machine, but the 2013 Heintz Blanc de Blancs was mind blowing good tonight.
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Easily the best Ultramarine ever! Freaking love that wine!
Was planning to keep my magnum for a long time - what are your thoughts on that after the bottle you just opened?
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Should be just fine.
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Not to mention basically drinking a still rose at that point
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I had my first ever Ultramarine last night, a 2020 Heintz vineyard Blanc de Blancs that I believe was disgorged some time in November 2024. I was very disappointed for the kind friend who opened it for us.
Not a lot to add that hasn’t already been said, but it was incredibly vegetal, with overwhelming jalapeño/celery stalk aromas and was just unpleasant start to finish. Did not improve over a couple of hours.
I can’t imagine this was intentional, and I’m honestly quite shocked that it was released unless something went horrifically wrong after disgorgement.
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Interestingly, your note and the one from @David_Bu3ker led me to go back and look at my notes. I also have the 2013 Heintz BdB as my highest rated Ultramarine to date. The 2012 and 2014 were also really good, but a step behind. After 2014, I have not been as much a fan. The 2013 Heintz BdN was also very good and my highest rated BdN from them as well.
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