One of the great historic sites in the Napa Valley, Heitz Cellar is under the leadership of Lawrence Wine Estates, as the winery was purchased in 2018. Tasting with Lawrence Wine Estates CEO Carlton McCoy, MS, was a treat as he shared the rich history of the property. McCoy, MS, became a Master Sommelier in 2013 at just 28 years old as he was one of the youngest people and the second African American to become a MS. Sharing his thoughts about Heitz, he talked about the importance of the winemaking team understanding the land. McCoy stated “Brittney Sherwood had been the winemaker at Heitz since 2012 and the winemaking at this location is so unique. We didn’t need to tweak a lot but we challenged Brittney to see how they can be better. For someone who really admired something we wanted them to be better and we have more knowledge now. A lot of the changes that we made were in the vineyard. Balancing yields better, managing canopies better and preserving more natural acidity in the fruit. Trying to get more length in the wines. We worked with our cooperage and reduced the new barrique.”
He has noted that the new winemaking style is a departure from the old wines made by David Heitz. McCoy explained “David Heitz really liked new oak more and his era of wines had more new. We brought back more large vessel aging and because of that the wines are more pure and less sweet and fat.” The wines now he explained focus on good structure and aging potential. McCoy stated “This is one of the great, iconic estates in the world and we were careful to change anything. Sometimes we went to 10 or 20 thousand liter oak casks and beaches of that journey I think that Brittney is connected more to the wines. Heitz doesn’t need much work, we invested into the facility and into the farming.”
We tasted through the new wines and I found that the ‘Cru’ bottlings to be leaps above the entry level wine. I love the new 2018 Heitz ‘Trailside Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 96) which ash marvelous herbal notes and stony accents. This is a polished, highly-nuanced bottling. The best wine I tasted was the 2018 Heitz ‘Martha’s Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is a stunning wine that has beautiful power, poise and aging potential. Learn more about this famed house at heitzcellar.com and here are my reviews of the new Heitz wines.
2019 Heitz Cellar ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2019 Heitz Cellar ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromatics of bay leaf and black currants that mingle well with salty soils and shades of boysenberry compote on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with good elegance and underlying verve. Soft and approachable now, enjoy over the next ten years to come. Drink 2024-2034- 91
2019 Heitz Cellar ‘Lot C-91’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Lot C-91’ comes from sites in Western Oakville, Eastern Rutherford, Southeast Howell Mountain, as well as the foothills of St. Helena. 100% varietal, this opens with pencil lead and dark currants that parade with loamy soils and suggestions of wet stone on the nose. The palate is fresh, well-poised and neatly textured, reveling in its medium to full-bodied core of black fruits, eucalyptus, espresso grounds and tar notes. This is delicious stuff to enjoy now, and watch this evolve over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 93
2018 Heitz Cellar ‘Trailside Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Heitz Cellar ‘Trailside Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this gently sloped site in the Rutherford AVA, set on alluvial soils. This site was formerly owned by the Wildwood Ranch. The wine comes from one small block set on volcanic soils. Aged in 100% new French oak, this opens with an alluring bouquet of violet rose petals alongside crushed wet gravel, fresh thyme, cigar box and heady wild blackberry fruit tones. The herbal and rose petal aromatics really make this sing. Medium to full-bodied, with a seamless texture and good sense of length, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen to twenty yeas to come. Drink 2024-2040- 96
2018 Heitz Cellar ‘Linda Falls Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outstanding 2018 Heitz Cellar ‘Linda Falls Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from their estate site on Howell Mountain. Provencale herbs and cassis notes mark the nose alongside suggestions of asphalt and huckleberry — showing outstanding flavor range. Well-balanced, medium to full-bodied and delicious, this glides throughout the drinking experience. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2024-2040- 95
2018 Heitz Cellar ‘Martha’s Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 Heitz Cellar ‘Martha’s Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning new edition of this wine that was aged in all new French oak before bottling. From the Oakville AVA, this reveals a lush mouthfeel and wonderful sense of salinity that makes your mouth water. Bright red and dark fruits mingle well with espresso grounds and wet gravel, alongside shades of menthol on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, and impeccably balanced, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twenty plus years to come. Drink 2024-2044- 97