The origin of Lot C-91 begins in the fall of 1969 with the idea that through meticulous site selection and assemblage, we can create something more significant than the sum of its parts. This historical cuvée is sourced exclusively from the renowned single vineyards of Heitz Cellar and showcases a most unique expression of the terroir of the Napa Valley.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, farmed sustainably and certified organic by CCOF and Certified Fish Friendly Farming.
The palate exhibits the density and length that only the truly great wines of the world are capable of. The soft expression of red and black fruits are a result of harvesting earlier while the fruit is still fresh and vibrant and having patience as the wine undergoes one of the longest aging regimens in the region. A clear differentiation between the Napa Valley Cabernet and the Lot C-91 is the presence of savory elements such as sage, rosemary, cured meats, and black pepper. This patient approach allows for the integration of tannin, alcohol, acidity, and fruit. The result is a wine of incredible complexity and harmony, that is true to the place it comes from.
93 Wine Spectator Expressive, with a bold menthol note followed quickly by boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors wrapped in black licorice. The long finish has a tug of earth amid a generally velvety feel, while the menthol note curls around the fruit. Distinctive.
93 Wine Enthusiast This robust, well-structured wine hugs tasty black cherries, black olives and charcoal flavors in firm tannins and will certainly improve and expand with time. Meaty, black peppery accents join with the herbs and black fruits for a complex, concentrated expression.
92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate There's a gentle herbaceousness to the cherry fruit in Heitz's 2018 Lot C-91, making it a bit more like redcurrant than true cherry. A blend of fruit from Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena and Howell Mountain, it's medium-bodied but more expansive and generous than the regular bottling, with a nice touch of velvet layered in on the mid-palate and a long, fruit-driven finish.
95 Decanter In 1969, Joe Heitz made a cuvée that was more outstanding than his Napa Cabernet, but not a single-vineyard bottling. In 2018, after the winery was bought by Gaylon Lawrence Jr., the team at Heitz discovered four bottles and decided they should set out to recreate Joe’s experiment. It is the boldest of the bunch: a delicious hedonistic pleasure filled red with excellent balance and teeming with pure dark fruit notes, rich earthen spices, dried purple florals, cedarwood, tobacco, and dark chocolate — a firm acid backbone frames fine-grained tannins. There is plenty of richness, balanced by tension and energy. Lawrence Wine Estates Master Sommelier and CEO Carlton McCoy calls it the ‘uber Napa cuvee’ and the best multi-site expression of Heitz for the vintage. Drinking Window: 2023 - 2045
