95-Points by Decanter.
Fashionably fragrant, it leads with macerated bing cherry, bay laurel, sage, and a subtle minty note. Medium-bodied, soft and long, with plush tannins and a beautiful vein of ironstone minerality. Finishes with fragrant brown spices and notes of walnut husk. Aged in upright casks for 20-36 months in 90-95% new French oak. Cool fermentations, early pressing and a long élevage is the recipe winemaker Brittany Sherwood follows. She says that Heitz uses a small amount of Limousine oak foudre, which typically requires longer ageing for better integration — sourced from the Trailside Vineyard in the eastern foothills of Rutherford, just north of Mumm and south of Conn Creek. Heitz purchased the 34-hectare parcel in 2019 and incorporated the contiguous 20 hectares to the south, formerly called Wildwood.
 
Heitz Cellar Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
From the storied Trailside Vineyard in the heart of Rutherford, this singular expression of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon captures the pedigree of an exceptional site. Part of the Heitz estate since 1984, the vineyard’s rocky alluvial soils, western exposure, and warm days tempered by gentle evening influence yield fruit of remarkable depth and refinement. Crafted exclusively from the estate’s finest blocks of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, each lot is vinified and matured separately before an extended élevage in French oak and bottle. The result is a Cabernet of poise and gravitas, offering layered concentration, polished structure, and the unmistakable signature of Rutherford terroir.
 
Heitz Cellar
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.