Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Wine Spectator's # 4 Wine of the Year 2021!

Family owned since its founding in 1961, Heitz Cellar has helped shape the history of California winemaking and its legacy runs as deep as the roots throughout the Napa Valley. In the late 1950s, pioneering vintner Joe Heitz ushered in Napa’s modern era with his iconic, globally celebrated wines, including Napa Valley’s first vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon, the renowned Heitz Cellar Martha’s Vineyard. Tucked against the Mayacamas Mountains in the celebrated Oakville AVA, with fertile, well-drained soil and afternoon shade, this superior site is home to the unique proprietary Cabernet clone which has brought this vineyard legendary status. In the mid-1960s, an agreement was made between Joe Heitz and Tom May to source Cabernet Sauvignon fruit from May’s small Oakville vineyard for Heitz wines. Ever since 1966, Heitz Cellar has been crafting the now illustrious Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, one of their three vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignons. Fifty-eight years of the Heitz family’s dedication to viticulture, stewardship, and classic winemaking maintained the winery’s notoriety as a benchmark amongst its peers in California and Europe. 

Heitz family's vision of winemaking spans three generations of dedication to excellence. They believe that true artistry sometimes requires restraint. They strive for the delicate balance between science and nature's bounty that allows their wines to express the genuine character of the varietal and to reflect their vineyard's unique geography within the Napa Valley. They are also proud to be a leader in agricultural stewardship as 100% of Heitz vineyards are grown certified CCOF organic, with a move towards biodynamic farming in the near future. At Heitz Cellar they cherish their history and legacy, with a full commitment to their vision and goals to maintain the winery's heritage.

In April, 2018, Heitz Cellar entered an exciting new chapter as this rich legacy was passed into the hands of the Lawrence family, whose deep roots in agriculture and commitment to the same core values of fine winemaking made it a perfect match. The wines are made with an unwavering commitment to quality from organically farmed, 100% Napa Valley fruit, and a commitment to the sustainability of Napa Valley.

“Standing in Martha’s Vineyard, you quickly realize why this site consistently produces a remarkable Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard receives gentle morning and early afternoon sunlight and is sheltered from the heat of the late afternoon sun by the mountains. This allows for longer hang time and Martha’s Vineyard is, historically, one of the last vineyards we pick. This ability to leave the fruit on the vine longer than other sites allows for concentration of flavor and softening of tannin to produce a wine so pure in its expression of place. The consistency in showcasing Martha’s Vineyard’s unique mint, bay leaf, dark berry and chocolate notes year after year is a reminder of why this vineyard has commanded a faithful following since the 1966 vintage.” – Brittany Sherwood, Winemaker.

Hidden in the shadows of the Mayacamas mountains on the alluvial fan of western Oakville, Martha's Vineyard continues to embody the pedigree of being named the first single vineyard-designated wine in Napa Valley. The 2016 vintage showcases this prized vineyard in all its glory; notes of wild black fruit, thyme, mint, eucalyptus, and bay are lifted and enjoyed with the polished tannin and mouthwatering freshness of this wine. Known as a textbook vintage in Napa Valley, the 2016 Martha's Vineyard has been aged to perfection for immediate enjoyment at release and will continue to reward for the next 20+ years.