The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Red WineIssue 84

Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Heitz Cellar · Heitz Wine Cellars

$28529 proofNASOakville, Napa Valley, California, USA
A classically scaled Napa Cabernet that prizes structure and site-voice over power — patience will be richly rewarded.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

A signature lift of crushed mint and eucalyptus rides above blackcurrant pastille, cedar shavings, and dried violet, with subtle suggestions of tobacco leaf and graphite emerging with air.

Palate

Medium-to-full bodied and finely chiseled, layering cassis, black cherry, and bay laurel over fine-grained tannins, savory bramble, and a graphite-stained core that feels more Médoc than Napa.

Finish

Long and cool-toned, closing on menthol, dried herbs, dark plum skin, and toasted cedar that lingers with quiet authority.

Specifications
Varietal
Grenache Dominant
Blend
GSM
Vineyards
Martha's Vineyard, a 34-acre site in Oakville owned by Tom and Martha May, planted on gravelly alluvial soils and bordered by stands of eucalyptus that contribute to the wine's distinctive menthol signature.
Alcohol
14.5%
Organic / Biodynamic
No
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

The Oakville Shadow — This wine is best enjoyed neat in a Bordeaux glass, decanted 60–90 minutes before serving at 62–65°F.

Food Pairing

Dry-aged ribeye with rosemary and bone marrow butter, or rack of lamb crusted in herbs de Provence.

The Story

Sourced since 1966 from Tom and Martha May's Oakville vineyard ringed by eucalyptus trees, this bottling helped define single-vineyard Napa Cabernet and remains stewarded today by the Heitz family's original house style.

Train These Aromas
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