Heitz Cellar

Trailside Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

9.59 ratings
9.33 pro ratings
Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon
Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pasta, Venison, Tomato-Based, Potato, Pork, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Mushrooms, Beef, Lamb, Chili & Hot Spicy
Top Notes For
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Stupidly; elegant, beautiful, complex and such a steal at $69.99

The nose reveals, gummy, ripe, floral; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, black plum, raspberries, touch of blueberries, mulberries & boysenberries. Fruit cola melody, dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, dark spice, softly layered; clove, nutmeg, understated cinnamon & vanilla, anise, steeped black, fruit tea, bay leaf, sage, mint, dry crushed rocks, limestone, dry twig, volcanic, dry clay, dry top soil, forest floor, mushrooms, anise, graphite, fresh & dry tobacco with candied, brightly floral, fresh & withering; dark, red, purple & blue flowers framed in mixed; wild, greens and fields of lavender.

The body is elegantly, round, velvety, ruby & creamy. The tension, structure, length and balance are at their high point. It glides beautifully with juicy fruits. This is a gleaming example of why I love well aged & stored Heitz. Gummy, ripe, floral; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, raspberries, touch of blueberries, mulberries & boysenberries, dry pomegranate & cranberries with dark raisins, dates & a little fig. Dark fruit melody cola, touch of bandaid/VA, dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, dark spice, dark expresso roast, softly layered; clove, nutmeg, understated cinnamon & vanilla, anise, steeped black, fruit tea, bay leaf, sage, mint, dry crushed rocks, limestone, dry twig, volcanic minerals, dry clay, dry top soil, forest floor, mushrooms, anise, graphite, fresh & dry tobacco with candied, brightly floral, fresh & withering; dark, red, purple & blue flowers framed in mixed; wild, greens and fields of lavender. It’s has perfect round, warm, rain shower acidity. The finish is everything I look for in an aged, Napa Cabernet. The 97 Trailside has flushed out into a dark, incredibly well knitted, triple balanced in fruit, earth & herbs, yielding into dark spice with a little palate heat on the long set & persists longer than minutes.

The 1997 still has 10–15 years of good drinking ahead. Properly stored of course.

Photo of; Heitz Winery, old oak wood vats, old school basket press and tasting room signage & vines.

Stupidly; elegant, beautiful, complex and such a steal at $69.99

The nose reveals, gummy, ripe, floral; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, black plum, raspberries, touch of blueberries, mulberries & boysenberries. Fruit cola melody, dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, dark spice, softly layered; clove, nutmeg, understated cinnamon & vanilla, anise, steeped black, fruit tea, bay leaf, sage, mint, dry crushed rocks, limestone, dry twig, volcanic, dry clay, dry top soil, forest floor, mushrooms, anise, graphite, fresh & dry tobacco with candied, brightly floral, fresh & withering; dark, red, purple & blue flowers framed in mixed; wild, greens and fields of lavender.

The body is elegantly, round, velvety, ruby & creamy. The tension, structure, length and balance are at their high point. It glides beautifully with juicy fruits. This is a gleaming example of why I love well aged & stored Heitz. Gummy, ripe, floral; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, raspberries, touch of blueberries, mulberries & boysenberries, dry pomegranate & cranberries with dark raisins, dates & a little fig. Dark fruit melody cola, touch of bandaid/VA, dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, dark spice, dark expresso roast, softly layered; clove, nutmeg, understated cinnamon & vanilla, anise, steeped black, fruit tea, bay leaf, sage, mint, dry crushed rocks, limestone, dry twig, volcanic minerals, dry clay, dry top soil, forest floor, mushrooms, anise, graphite, fresh & dry tobacco with candied, brightly floral, fresh & withering; dark, red, purple & blue flowers framed in mixed; wild, greens and fields of lavender. It’s has perfect round, warm, rain shower acidity. The finish is everything I look for in an aged, Napa Cabernet. The 97 Trailside has flushed out into a dark, incredibly well knitted, triple balanced in fruit, earth & herbs, yielding into dark spice with a little palate heat on the long set & persists longer than minutes.

The 1997 still has 10–15 years of good drinking ahead. Properly stored of course.

Photo of; Heitz Winery, old oak wood vats, old school basket press and tasting room signage & vines.

1 person found it helpfulMay 2nd, 2020
Freek Welter

OMG!

OMG!

Oct 8th, 2021
Michael Hauer

1997

Mar 8th, 2014
Ross Chernin

Ross had this 8 years ago

Ross had this 8 years ago

Mar 27th, 2016
Ryan Sherman

Ryan had this 10 years ago

Ryan had this 10 years ago

Aug 24th, 2014
Rick Wolfen

Rick had this 7 years ago

Rick had this 7 years ago

May 1st, 2017
Andrew Shaheen

Andrew had this 8 years ago

Andrew had this 8 years ago

May 11th, 2016
Brook Jennings

Brook had this 10 years ago

Brook had this 10 years ago

Jun 14th, 2014
Jeff Proctor

Jeff had this 11 years ago

Jeff had this 11 years ago

Sep 5th, 2013