Winemaker Notes
The Palate of the Napa Valley Cabernet has always been reference point for the freshness and elegance that pure Cabernet Sauvignon is capable of achieving in the new world. The 2016 is not different. This cuvee continues to be the entry point for classically produced produced Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley. Bright and fresh red fruits are showing vibrantly in the 2016 and will continue to for years to come.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Very polished and refined with plum, light chocolate, coffee and mahogany aromas. Medium-bodied with medium tannins and a savory and juicy finish. Hard not to drink now. Will improve with age. Drink now or hold.
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Wine Spectator
A subtle savory edge leads off, followed by enticing rooibos tea, red currant preserve and raspberry coulis flavors. Elegant finish. Drink now through 2026.
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.