Heitz Cellar
Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
After missing a ‘70s and ‘80s Heitz vertical many years ago, I vowed to seek out a bottle as all the comments from the tasting were astoundingly positive. My last bottle of Heitz Martha’s was the ‘01 (which was great) a few years ago, but at 46yrs, this was quite the experience.
The ‘78 has a bit of a legendary status, so expectations were high. Upon opening, the cork was in good shape (sigh of relief) and the color was unbelievably dark ruby with some bricking (another sigh of relief). The singular signature menthol/eucalyptus began to fill the glass, alongside aromatics of red berry fruits, espresso, some sort of sweet brown sugar/caramel note, and a savory-graphite type note too. Beautifully elegant on the palate with more red fruit, herbs (bay leaf?), and even some pipe tobacco (subdued, not in your face), but it sports the classical old Napa cab profile that is pure. Spectacular wine, and I could simply smell the wine all day…the aromatics were so powerful the entire time.
Open in bottle for three hours and powered through the entire time. Wish I had another so I could have the same experience!
After missing a ‘70s and ‘80s Heitz vertical many years ago, I vowed to seek out a bottle as all the comments from the tasting were astoundingly positive. My last bottle of Heitz Martha’s was the ‘01 (which was great) a few years ago, but at 46yrs, this was quite the experience.
The ‘78 has a bit of a legendary status, so expectations were high. Upon opening, the cork was in good shape (sigh of relief) and the color was unbelievably dark ruby with some bricking (another sigh of relief). The singular signature menthol/eucalyptus began to fill the glass, alongside aromatics of red berry fruits, espresso, some sort of sweet brown sugar/caramel note, and a savory-graphite type note too. Beautifully elegant on the palate with more red fruit, herbs (bay leaf?), and even some pipe tobacco (subdued, not in your face), but it sports the classical old Napa cab profile that is pure. Spectacular wine, and I could simply smell the wine all day…the aromatics were so powerful the entire time.
Open in bottle for three hours and powered through the entire time. Wish I had another so I could have the same experience!
A dark sweaty and intense front end. Profound and intense fruit with tobacco and iodine Really good.
A dark sweaty and intense front end. Profound and intense fruit with tobacco and iodine Really good.
Oct 11th, 2024Lovely gnarly stuff. Deep savory fruit. Still clear and intense. Some floral notes at the end with a succulent saline quality. Just spectacular.
Lovely gnarly stuff. Deep savory fruit. Still clear and intense. Some floral notes at the end with a succulent saline quality. Just spectacular.
Sep 11th, 2024
#AgedWineTuesday
Ruby in color with a wide brick rim.
Wonderful nose with plenty of fruits, earth notes and chocolates.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with great complexity.
Showing blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco leaf, light vanilla, earth, spices, leather, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn and licorice.
Medium in length on the finish, with no tannins at all.
This 45 year old is delicious now. Might not be at its peak anymore, but it is still gorgeous.
Still showing lots of fruits with great complexity and a soft mouth feel. Elegant and fruit forward. Really nice.
I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is always nice to drink this kind of wines.
Thank you John for sharing this with me.
Didn't last too long, and started declining after 45 minutes of airtime.
Paired beautifully with a nice piece of fillet.
13% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$750.
#AgedWineTuesday
Ruby in color with a wide brick rim.
Wonderful nose with plenty of fruits, earth notes and chocolates.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with great complexity.
Showing blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco leaf, light vanilla, earth, spices, leather, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn and licorice.
Medium in length on the finish, with no tannins at all.
This 45 year old is delicious now. Might not be at its peak anymore, but it is still gorgeous.
Still showing lots of fruits with great complexity and a soft mouth feel. Elegant and fruit forward. Really nice.
I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is always nice to drink this kind of wines.
Thank you John for sharing this with me.
Didn't last too long, and started declining after 45 minutes of airtime.
Paired beautifully with a nice piece of fillet.
13% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$750.
Band aid, intense fruit, sappy almost. Surprisingly vital
Band aid, intense fruit, sappy almost. Surprisingly vital
Apr 12th, 2023
Tasted blind. Dark tawny color. Mostly translucent. Very floral. Notes of black cherry, cherry cola, mocha, and some prominent eucalyptus that I pick up. Great fruit and acidity to match. Some are in Bordeaux land with their guesses, I go with 91 Heitz Martha's VIneyard. I'm on a roll. Awesome to partake in an old 78 in in such great condition. Thanks Larry! One of my favorite reds of the day.
Tasted blind. Dark tawny color. Mostly translucent. Very floral. Notes of black cherry, cherry cola, mocha, and some prominent eucalyptus that I pick up. Great fruit and acidity to match. Some are in Bordeaux land with their guesses, I go with 91 Heitz Martha's VIneyard. I'm on a roll. Awesome to partake in an old 78 in in such great condition. Thanks Larry! One of my favorite reds of the day.
Oct 31st, 2022
Dried cherries on the nose. Very port like with the age. Drinking exceptionally well!
Dried cherries on the nose. Very port like with the age. Drinking exceptionally well!
Jun 7th, 2025A solid wine; preferred '78 to the '76
A solid wine; preferred '78 to the '76
Nov 19th, 2015Sommelier Starling Diner, Editor Champagnifique.com
Ed had this 10 years ago
Ed had this 10 years ago
Dec 12th, 2015