2016 Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon Lot C-91 Napa Valley

The palate of the 2016 Lot C-91 exhibits the density and length that only the truly great wines of the world are capable of. The soft expression of red and black fruits are a result of harvesting earlier while the fruit is still fresh and vibrant and having patience as the wine undergoes one of the longest aging regimens in the region. A clear differentiation between the Napa Valley Cabernet and the Lot C-91 is the presence of savory elements such as sage, rosemary, cured meats, and black pepper. This patient approach allows for the integration of tannin, alcohol, acidity, and fruit. The result is a wine of incredible complexity and harmony, that is true to the place it comes from.
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2016 vintage in Napa Valley combined mild summer temperatures and a series of warm days at the end of growing season which led to an early start and finish to crush. Although a very busy season, the term “short and sweet” applies nicely to this vintage as we were able to bring all of our fruit into the winery in a timely fashion and enjoyed perfect ripeness across the varietal spectrum. 

Family owned since its founding in 1961, Heitz Cellar’s legacy runs as deep as the roots throughout the Napa Valley; a winery legend that has helped shape the history of Napa Valley winemaking. In the late 1950’s, pioneering vintner Joe Heitz ushered in Napa’s modern era with his iconic, globally celebrated wines, including Napa Valley’s first vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon, the renowned Heitz Cellar Martha’s Vineyard. Fifty-eight years of the Heitz family’s dedication to viticulture, stewardship, and classic winemaking, maintained the winery’s notoriety as a benchmark amongst its peers in California and Europe.

In April, 2018, Heitz Cellar entered an exciting new chapter as this rich legacy was passed into the hands of the Lawrence family, whose deep roots in agriculture and commitment to the same core values of fine winemaking made it a perfect match. The wines are made with an unwavering commitment to quality from organically farmed, 100% Napa Valley fruit, and a commitment to the sustainability of Napa Valley.

Sourced primarily from two vineyards in St. Helena: the Only One Vineyard and the Spring Valley Vineyard.
While the wine can age for decades, it is intended to be an exceptional entry point into the classic Heitz style, and hints at what can be experienced with single vineyard wines.
The blocks are harvested earlier than all other single vineyard wine with the specific intent to make an enjoyable wine that can be consumed earlier. To that end, it is aged with a very small percentage of new oak.

The 2016 vintage combined mild summer temperatures and a series of warm days at the end of the growing season which led to an early start to the crush. All fruit was harvested in a  very short amount of time.