Trailside Vineyard has been a Rutherford estate site for Heitz Cellar since 1984, and produces one of the most undersung Cabernets in the Napa Valley. Martha’s Vineyard may garner more attention, but the Trailside bottling is every bit its equal in terms of complexity. Softer and more nuanced than the rustic Martha's, the nose and texture here are dictionary definitions for Rutherford: dusty, plush and long. The finish is astounding in its power and relative weightlessness. A superb wine!

From a Rutherford site, this 100% varietal, estate wine is aged similarly to the producer’s fine Martha’s Vineyard bottling, given plenty of time in new and neutral oak as well as in bottle. Beguiling spice and a warmth of red fruit provide tangy freshness around lengthy layers of salty oak, iron and baked plum

Juicy, with an engaging mix of red currant, blood orange and raspberry coulis fruit, laced with rooibos tea, mineral, sassafras and mineral notes. Ripe and tightly focused, showing a racy edge that imparts nice lift from start to finish. Best from 2020 through 2035. 2,086 cases made. — JM