Bottle Notes, Zinfandel

2015 Heitz Cellar Zinfandel Ink Grade Vineyard – Bottle Notes

Heitz Cellar was founded by Joe Heitz in 1961. Joe Heitz ushered in Napa’s modern era with his iconic, globally celebrated wines, including Napa Valley’s first vineyard designated Cabernet Sauvignon, the renowned Heitz Cellar Martha’s Vineyard. Fifty-eight years of the Heitz family’s dedication to viticulture, stewardship, and classic winemaking, maintained the winery’s notoriety as a benchmark amongst its peers in California and Europe. In 2018 Heitz Cellar was sold to the Lawrence Family.

Ink Grade Vineyard is a certified organic site that stands atop the Vaca Range on the eastern side of Howell Mountain and was planted in 1990.

Purple in color. 14% ABV. Savory nose of black fruits, plums and pepper. Medium body with with just enough acidity. Claret style, old school Zinfandel. Blackberry, black raspberry, cocoa and Howell Mountain white pepper on the palate. Super length on the finish. This was the first time I have had a Heitz Zinfandel. Delicious wine from an iconic winery. Bought at retail while on a vacation in San Diego for $30 and I feel like it was money well spent. Best over the next 2-4 years.

My rating: 91 points.

I have not tasted a wine from Heitz in well over a decade. The wine community at large will be well served if the Lawrence family can keep Heitz relevant in the years to come.

Tagged , , ,

Leave a Comment