Heitz Cellar "Martha's Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
(Napa Valley, California) - [WS 96] [VM 94]

Winemaker Notes:

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 2017 vintage showcases incredible concentration from this warm-weather vintage: Notes of ripe black fruit, dark chocolate, and sweet bay are lifted and enjoyed with the robust yet soft tannin and mouthwatering freshness. The 2017 Martha’s Vineyard has been aged to perfection in our cellar and will continue to reward for the next 20+ years. 

The exclusive cabernet “Martha’s Clone” is known for producing small berries with an intensely purple hue, deeply concentrated flavor and a distinctive minty aroma. During aging, only the best barrels from the vineyard are selected and bottled as our Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Spending a year in neutral oak tanks after fermentation, the wine is allowed to settle and refine itself. Next, it is barreled down to hand-selected, 100% new French Limousin oak wide-grain barrels, allowing a slow and gentle integration of the toast and vanilla characteristics from the barrel to marry with the wine. Three years later, Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet is ready to bottle whereupon it continues to mature gracefully for another full year before being released from the cellar. A wine full of balance and unique, almost mysterious qualities, Martha’s Vineyard is our flagship wine and a true Napa Valley icon.

Ratings & Reviews:

 96 Points - Wine Spectator:
"This red brims with dark currant, cherry and loganberry fruit, but you have to work through a lush swath of menthol to get there, all while notes of sweet tobacco and a hint of loam run underneath. Fine-grained, with a lingering twang of iron, this has all it requires for a lengthy cellar run, yet needs to meld a bit more. Best from 2026 through 2045. 3,612 cases made." – JM (Mar 2024)

94 Points - Vinous Media:
"Very pure, vibrant and delineated throughout, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard is marked by strong floral overtones and mid-weight structure that confer grace. Lifted, elegant and precise, the 2018 is quite attractive. Like all these new releases from Heitz, the Martha's shows a bit of wood influence from casks that were new when this wine was made." – Antonio Galloni (Dec 2023)