Winemaker Notes
Proof that good things come to those who wait, the 2013 Martha's Vineyard is a masterpiece of cabernet fruit aged in French oak at an incredibly slow pace. Hailed by many as the best vintage in decades, the 2013 growing season in Napa Valley was long, dry and sun-soaked. In the glass, this translates into a deep, rich color. Slowly swirling reveals layer upon layer of complexity and that distinctive Martha’s mint character reaffirms why this cabernet is so celebrated. On the palate, this is a wine of monumental proportions that is nonetheless elegant. Explosions of dark fruit flavor are beautifully balanced with silky tannins. This has all the hallmarks of being one of the great vintages to come from this historic vineyard. It is ready to be enjoyed now and will thrive with proper cellaring for many years of pleasure.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
From Tom and Martha May's famous, organically farmed site in the heart of the appellation, this is a blockbuster vintage of the 100% varietal wine, immaculately structured and full of fresh acidity. The menthol is there, subtle, heightened by delicate, silky layerings of orange peel, red currant and cinnamon. Drink 2023–2033.
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James Suckling
The blackcurrants and blackberries with lavender and rosemary really pop out of the glass. Full body, tight and polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Shows tension and focus with a precise finish. Very finely textured. A classical wine. From organically grown grapes. Try in 2021 and onwards.
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Wine & Spirits
This is a powerful vintage of Martha’s Vineyard, a huge wine following a graceful line, so it’s neither overwhelming nor oversaturated. It has the structural elasticity of 2013 in its tannins, a salty umami note that highlights the dark currant and green fig flavors. Joe Heitz made the first Martha’s Vineyard cabernet in 1966, from the May family’s 34-acre parcel in western Oakville, with a small-berried selection of cabernet that gives the concentrated fruit for this wine.
Renowned for crafting Napa Valley's first cult wines, Heitz Cellar is globally recognized as the crown jewel of American wine. The timeless post-Prohibition style of winemaking endures with esteemed winemaker, Brittany Sherwood, producing elegant and balanced wines sourced from 100% organic and biodynamic Napa Valley fruit. Pioneering pure varietal, single-vineyard wines that can age for decades, including the iconic Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Heitz Cellar wines hail from the region’s most premier vineyard sites including Oakville, Rutherford, Howell Mountain, St. Helena, and Oak Knoll. Family-owned since its founding in 1961, Heitz Cellar continues to embody the artistry and legacy of classic winemaking with single-vineyard wines that position it as one of the world’s leading wine estates.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.