2018 Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
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Tasting notes
Very different from the normal Napa Cab! Savoury, dry finish, and correct. Fully mature fruit. Pretty pure! Though certainly not luscious. Needs food. (JR)
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Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
From two vineyards in St Helena: the Only One vineyard and the Spring Valley vineyard. Matured in a combination of new and used large oak casks and smaller barriques for two years, followed by a further year in bottle prior to release. Correct and just a little stony. Fruit is not the dominant characteristic! But it does reference Heitz character of old … sweet and stony. (JR)
Heitz's regular 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon features a slightly minty-eucalyptus edge, cherries and a hint of leather. Medium-bodied and concentrated, this is silky and fine, finishing a bit tart. Personally, I'd prefer to see more mid-palate richness, but that's not the style being pursued here.
Lots of ripe blue fruits, sappy herbs, and some background minerality as well as a touch of oak emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, a medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant Cabernet from this estate that's drinkable today yet will evolve for 15-20 years in cold cellars. It's one for the old school Cabernet lovers out there.