2016 Heitz Cabernet Linda Falls Vyd Howell Mountain Sauvignon

WA96 Heitz purchased 40 acres of woodlands on Howell Mountain in 2002 and subsequently planted seven of those acres. The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Linda Falls Vineyard is an impressive effort from those vines, offering smoke and vanilla-tinged cassis aromas. Concentrated and dense, this is tightly wound but not overly tannic, with a long, blueberry-accented finish.

Tucked amongst the redwoods and hills, our seven acres of Cabernet Sauvignon captures the rugged beauty of the Howell Mountain appellation.
The vines are planted in narrow rows, deliberately positioned to capture the strongest rays of the summer sun. As the fruit matures, the dense spacing and abundant sunshine leads to a low yield of smaller berries with thick, deeply-hued skins. This picturesque, hilly vineyard is surrounded by pine trees, deer, and bears; a truly special slice of Napa Valley.

The Linda Falls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is harvested a bit riper than our other cabernet grapes and has a higher pH to perfectly balance the heavy tannin structure, a trait of Howell Mountain fruit. This wine also sees a different barrel regime, spending a total of three years in oak; one year in neutral American oak tanks, and two years in 100% new tight-grain French oak barrels. These nuances have been perfected by our winemaker in order to craft the best wine possible, staying true to the vineyard from which it is sourced.