Heitz Cellar – 2017 Trailside Vineyard 

Heitz Cellar – 2017 Trailside Vineyard.

A classic Napa Cabernet that demonstrates refinement over raw power, with the unmistakable imprint of Rutherford terroir.

Trailside Vineyard is one of Heitz Cellar’s treasured sites, producing wines that combine depth, elegance, and the earthy signature often described as “Rutherford dust.” The 2017 vintage captures these qualities with composure, bringing together layered fruit, savory undertones, and a structure that promises decades of graceful aging.

About the Winery

Few estates have shaped the history of Napa Valley quite like Heitz Cellar. Founded by Joe and Alice Heitz in 1961, the winery became internationally recognized for introducing the concept of vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon to the region. The release of Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet in the 1960s was a milestone moment, setting a precedent that helped Napa gain global respect alongside the finest European regions.

Over the decades, the winery built a reputation for precision, longevity, and a style that favors balance over excess. Since 2018, the Lawrence family has owned the estate, continuing the legacy with a strong focus on organic farming and sustainable practices. All Heitz vineyards—spread across six Napa sub-appellations—are certified organic, a commitment that underscores their role as both custodians of the land and guardians of Napa’s long-term future.

About the Vineyard

The Trailside Vineyard, acquired by Heitz in the mid-1980s, sits on the eastern edge of Rutherford, bordered by the Silverado Trail and Conn Creek. The site is a patchwork of blocks planted to different Cabernet Sauvignon clones, with diverse soils ranging from gravelly alluvium to finer loam. This variation allows for multiple dimensions in the finished wine—power, finesse, and aromatic lift.

The vineyard benefits from generous afternoon sun and cooling evening breezes that slow ripening and preserve freshness. Its east-west vine orientation ensures that clusters ripen evenly, producing smaller berries of concentration and intensity. Winemaker Brittney Sherwood often points to Trailside as one of the most “textbook” Cabernet sites in Napa—an estate vineyard that consistently delivers fruit of precision and character.

About the Wine

The 2017 Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon carries the imprint of its growing season. Winter rains revived Napa’s soils after years of drought, followed by a measured spring and steady summer that produced healthy fruit. A late-season heatwave accelerated harvest, and though the October wildfires left a lasting mark on the valley, the fruit from Trailside was already secure, allowing this wine to capture the best of the vintage.

In the glass, the wine shows a garnet core with ruby reflections. Aromatically it unfolds with precision: mulberry, cassis, and redcurrant lead the way, supported by nuances of anise, dried tea leaves, and applewood. Subtle hints of mint, cedar, and a faint mesquite smokiness run in the background, adding intrigue without dominating. Rutherford’s earthy “dust” character threads it all together, giving the bouquet its grounding.

The palate is sleek and racy, more about focus and drive than overt opulence. Dark fruits are finely etched, carried by firm yet polished tannins that give the wine a clear sense of structure. There is an underlying tension here—energy that keeps the fruit lively and prevents the wine from feeling heavy. Flashes of iron and warm spice join toward the finish, which is long, dusty, and persistent.

What makes this vintage compelling is its clarity and restraint. While Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet often leans toward generosity, Trailside in 2017 delivers poise and definition—an expression that favors detail and terroir transparency over sheer weight. Already balanced, it will gain further complexity with cellaring, developing notes of leather, truffle, and dried herbs over the next two decades.

Conclusion

The 2017 Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Heitz Cellar is a superb example of what Napa Valley Cabernet can be when elegance is prioritized over sheer weight. It captures the essence of Rutherford with purity and detail, while honoring the winery’s long-standing tradition of extended aging and terroir expression.

We award this wine a 95-point DWA score—an authentic, terroir-driven Cabernet that demonstrates why Heitz Cellar remains one of Napa Valley’s great historic estates.

This review is written by our own Niels Aarts. Heitz Cellar and their wines are available through our partner Best of Wines, and can be bought in their online shop.

Taste Date:     July 2025 

Website:         Heitz Cellar