Notes from Heitz Cellar:
"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 1950s, 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.
While 1972 has been largely seen as the disappointing vintage of the decade, Heitz Cabernets are regarded as one of the best outcomes of a difficult season. The Napa Valley was hurt by a cool and rainy year, topped off by harvest rains."
About the cuvee:
While Heitz's vintage notes tell us that '72 was a challenging year, it should be noted that several 1972s from Napa finished in the top 10 of the famous 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting. As is often said, great producers always manage to make fine wines, even in difficult vintages.