Base of neck; All wines purchased upon release, many purchased importer-direct, and all stored in a purpose built redundant temperature and humidity controlled cellar.

The 1982 Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is an iconic piece of Napa Valley history. Renowned as one of America's first true "cult wines," Martha's Vineyard is celebrated for its highly distinct, site-specific character driven by its proprietary "Martha's Clone" Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

The 1982 vintage in Napa Valley required meticulous selection, but it produced beautifully balanced, lower-alcohol, and highly classic wines that have stood the test of time. Decades of careful cellaring have transformed this release into a masterclass in aged California elegance.

• Famous Mint: The wine carries the legendary, unmistakable aromatic signature of Martha's Vineyard—an intense perfume of eucalyptus, fresh mint, and bay leaf layered over cocoa powder and sweet chocolate.
• Palate: Fully mature, smooth, and harmonious. It unifies savory black fruit, fig, and dark plum flavors with complex secondary notes of cedar, wild mushroom, cigar box, and old saddle leather.
• Structure: Medium-bodied and refined, it is driven by vibrant, mouth-watering acidity rather than heavy alcoholic heat. Its once-powerful tannins are now completely rounded and silky, finishing with an unexpected, juicy freshness.

• Uncompromising Aging: True to late founder Joe Heitz's fiercely independent style, the wine spent a year in large, neutral oak tanks before being moved into 100% new French Limousin oak barrels for an extensive three years of refinement—a wood choice nearly unique to Heitz in Napa at the time.
• Micro-Terroir: Grapes were harvested from the iconic 34-acre parcel on the Oakville bench, nestled against the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains.

98 CellarTracker

Phenomenal expression of Bordeaux style Napa Cabernet…sad that Heitz is a mere shadow of its elegant former self. 12/29/2025

94 CellarTracker

9x Heitz Martha‘s Vineyard (60s/70s/80s): Tasting these wines from three decades underscores the vineyard's ability to produce long-lived, high-quality wines with remarkable consistency, perhaps unmatched in Napa Valley during those years. While there is a clear line through the decades the tasting showcased the many faces these wines have, as some were still vibrant and young while others were on an absolut peak. The 1978 vintage was the winner, earning a perfect 100pts for its mature complexity, including malt and coffee nuances, a lively fruit core, and formidable structure. The 1969 and 1975 vintages were not far behind (both at 97pts).

TN: Initially, this wine presents a somewhat muted nose that lacks clear definition. On the palate, it's notably fresher and younger, bursting with vibrant dark and dark red berries, complemented by crushed rocks, tobacco, and fresh herbal notes with a hint of mint. It's straightforward and inviting, though lacking the complexity of other wines in the lineup. After two hours, it shows increased freshness and zest on the palate, with added notes of mint and coffee. It's very enjoyable to drink now but promises more depth and complexity with a few more years of cellaring.

Decanting: This bottle would have needed a long decant (3-4 hours). 5/5/2024