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Heitz Cellar
Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
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Vintage Wine Name Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Vintage 2017 Wine Description Acquired in 1984 and first vineyard-designated in 1989, Trailside Vineyard lies atop gravel alluvium on the eastern bench of Rutherford. This prized estate Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a single slope with perfect western exposure: block 3, which was Joe’s favorite. We could bottle additional blocks, but we choose to stay with block 3 as an homage to Joe for our single-vineyard wine. A tapestry of sixteen Cabernet Sauvignon blocks over one hundred and forty acres, this historic vineyard was the base for many famous wines and displays some of the most unique and diverse soil in Napa Valley. Region Napa Valley Appellation Rutherford Varietal Composition 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Details Acquired in 1984 and first vineyard-designated in 1989, Trailside Vineyard lies atop gravel alluvium on the eastern bench of Rutherford. This prized estate Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a single slope with perfect western exposure: block 3, which was Joe’s favorite. We could bottle additional blocks, but we choose to stay with block 3 as an homage to Joe for our single-vineyard wine. A tapestry of sixteen Cabernet Sauvignon blocks over one hundred and forty acres, this historic vineyard was the base for many famous wines and displays some of the most unique and diverse soil in Napa Valley. Tasting notes 2017 was a warm and concentrated growing season in Napa Valley, and we see this expressed in vibrant notes of ripe red fruit, sage, and thyme. The aromatics are all supported by firm tannins and an elegant finish. Pairing notes n/a Alcohol % 13.7 Aging Aged for four years in a combination of old and new French oak barrels, ranging from 228 to 12,000 liters. Followed by one year of bottle aging before release. SRP 185 Highest Score 93, Wine Spectator Highest Score Review Copy Stylish, with sleek, racy mulberry and warmed cassis notes that are nicely defined, laced liberally with red tea, anise and apple wood. Shows subtle mesquite, mint and iron flashes in the background throughout. Nicely done for the vintage. Acclaim 93 Wine Spectator, 93 Wine Advocate, 91 Wine Enthusiast Feature Bullet 1 A bastion of classical winemaking tradition, the wines of Heitz Cellar are some of the longest-lived in all of Napa Valley, with top vintages capable of aging 50 years or more. Feature Bullet 2 Remarkable consistency: Just three winemakers (Joe Heitz, David Heitz, and Brittany Sherwood) have made wine here in 64 years. Feature Bullet 3 Heitz remains the sole producer in the Napa Valley whose red wines do not undergo malolactic fermentation. Feature Bullet 4 A long élevage—with 9 months in upright cask, 3 years in barrel, and one year in bottle—gives the single vineyard wines time to harmonize and soften. Feature Bullet 5 In 1966, Joe Heitz was the first winemaker and proprietor in the Napa Valley to realize—and then demonstrate—that the greatest wines of the Napa Valley come from single vineyards. In his case, his epiphany came from Martha’s Vineyard in Oakville. Winery Heitz Cellar Winery Description 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. The 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. Winery Hashtags #heitzcellar #heitz #napavalley Winemaker Brittany Sherwood Winemaker Bio Heitz Cellar Director of Winemaking Brittany Sherwood’s approach to winemaking is one of minimal intervention that highlights each vineyard’s unique qualities as well as vintage expression. “I want to craft wines that are respectful of both the site and the vintage and that showcase these qualities in a fresh, age-worthy, classic style,” she explains. Brittany joined Heitz Cellar to work the 2012 vintage. “I felt profoundly lucky to be able to be part of this Napa Valley legacy,” she says. As Heitz Cellar’s Winemaker, Brittany works closely with vineyard management, from poring over thinning schedules in summer to choosing smaller picks between blocks at harvest: “There is a lot of collaboration so that at the end of the day we are making the best decisions possible.” She oversees and manages the production and laboratory team to ensure quality every step of the way from crush and fermentation to the wines’ extensive aging and determining when they are ready for bottling. “All my travel allowed me to work with many different winemakers and to see how they managed quality control and analysis in different kinds of facilities,” she notes. “I was able to bring that breadth of knowledge back to Heitz with me.”