Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Lot C-91 2018 750ml

2018 is a spectacular vintage that started off beautifully with abundant spring rains. The generous summer sun and cooler marine influences from San Pablo Bay created the ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon. Lot C-91 continues to embody the legacy of Heitz Cellar and the vision for this wine that began in 1969. The fruit comes only from their prized single vineyards and is blended after each parcel has had the opportunity to show its true potential, allowing their winemaker, Brittany Sherwood to select only the most expressive barrels to make the final Cuvee. Always made in the classical style that Joe Heitz pioneered in the early 1960s.

Prior Vintage 2017 |

Wine Spectator 91 points: A perfumy style, with damson plum, rooibos tea, sandalwood and mulled cherry aromas and flavors that glide through on a silky structure. Ends with light sanguine and savory threads. Drink now.Wine Enthusiast 90 points Bright, balanced and full of black cherries, this vibrant, moderately tannic wine offers plentiful black-fruit flavors on a slightly tangy texture.

Wine Advocate 92 points: Originally a blend of single vineyards, including 50% of the volume to come out of Martha's Vineyard, the 2017 Lot C-91 is now a home for borderline lots that don't quite make the single-vineyard bottlings. Marked by notes of black cherries, cassis, restrained oak and a hint of dried herbs, this is full-bodied yet streamlined in shape, with a long, softly dusty finish.

Decanter 96 points: In 1969, Heitz produced a one-off cuvée called Lot C-91. It was thought of as an elevated version of the Napa Valley Cabernet – a 'best of the best' blend from sites throughout Napa. After a bottle of the '69 turned up and turned heads at a Heitz wine dinner, the winemaking team decided to produce a modern iteration. It's comprised of vineyards in four AVAs: Rutherford (34%), Oakville (34%), Howell Mountain (17%) and St Helena (15%). The dazzling nose instantly shows off the component from Martha's Vineyard and on the palate it walks the line between succulent, powerful, herbal and floral, showing none of the heat of the 2017 vintage. As of June 2020, this was still a barrel sample, while many Napa 2017s are already on the market. Barrel Sample: 96

James Suckling 96 points: Wow. Such a racy and exciting nose! This is quite agile and nimble, full of red and blue berries in the forefront, then complemented by spiced orange, earl grey, red plums, potpourri, savory plums and chocolate. Tense and elegant on the palate, which is all about succulent red berries, nuance and texture. Nothing redundant here. A great Napa cabernet sauvignon that has real definition. A beauty by all accounts!