Notes from Tasting House:
"The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon is an impressive, opulent wine with superb balance. The rich, intense color catches your eye immediately as the wine is poured into the glass. Swirl it, and take pleasure in the distinctive and enduring minty aroma that is so characteristic of this celebrated proprietary clone. This is an exciting wine from the Oakville appellation with a track record dating back to its first vintage in 1966. There is nothing like a Martha's Vineyard Cabernet – tried and true, it is a remarkable treasure from the Napa Valley.
This quintessential Oakville Cab is seamless; indeed, if asked to name a perfect wine, I'd say this 2001 Martha's would fit the bill... Rich and at the same time elegant; it's one of the most distinctive wines in the world and displays the much-sought-after terroir of its vineyard.
This was a spectacular performance from this hallowed vineyard as well as one of Napa Valley’s great historic terroirs. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it reveals a still youthful personality and will benefit from another 5-7 years of bottle age. An opaque purple color is followed by aromas of graphite, creme de cassis, flowers and background earth as well as spice. The old eucalyptus-filled aromatics of a young Martha’s Vineyard are nowhere to be found as the 2001 is dominated by fruit and earth. Full-bodied and powerful with superb integration of wood, tannin, acidity and alcohol, this large-scaled red is capable of three or more decades of cellaring. It is unquestionably a youthful classic, but it requires patience from its owners. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.
About: 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."