Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 1997 750ml

Heitz Cellar's Martha's Vineyard, the Oakville site famous for its signature mint and eucalyptus character, has been bottled as a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon since 1966 and remains one of Napa Valley's most storied wines. The 1997 is considered a modern icon from the vineyard and was only the second vintage produced after the 1993 replanting. A ripe, generous year delivered a complex bouquet of black cherry, cassis, mocha and mint chocolate, followed by a plush, expansive palate with real volume and notably velvety tannins. Decanter praised its "impeccable balance" despite the ripeness of the vintage. Now in its prime drinking window, it should hold and develop for another decade with proper storage.