Heimark Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019

After more than two decades as Napa Valley grape growers, Craig and Libby Heimark found inspiration and confidence from the copious amounts of praise they received year after year for the unique qualities of the grapes being produced in their vineyard and decided to enter the winemaking business themselves. The Heimark family is incredibly proud to produce small-lot Cabernet Sauvignon exclusively sourced from their own vineyard located on the east side of the Silverado Trail up the Dutch Henry Canyon ~ a historic wagon trail connecting the small towns of Calistoga and Napa, originally frequented by gold prospectors and highwaymen way back when. Craig and Libby Heimark (pronounced “high mark”) first met while attending Brown University, a private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Years later, all three of their children - Jake, Eric and Julia – also attended Brown. In 1997, Craig and Libby purchased their property as a place to retire after saying goodbye to their fast-paced lifestyle living, working and traveling throughout Europe and the US while Craig was employed by the Swiss Bank. Upon his retirement, rather than receive a Swiss watch or other customary gift, he was gifted consultation with wine-industry experts. Genius, right?!?

At the time of purchase, Craig and Libby hired the highly skilled Michael Wolf as their Vineyard Manager to carefully develop the land and plant the vines. They then hired both Harlan Estate’s Mary Hall Maher and winemaking consultant Tony Soter to oversee all viticulture. Fourteen acres were identified for Cabernet Sauvignon and one acre for Petit Verdot. The ‘buried treasure’ of the Heimark Vineyard lies not in the shiny metal that long-ago prospectors sought, but rather in the soil. Rocky, volcanic, and fractured, this challenging southwest-facing terroir cultivates resilient, deeply rooted vines. The struggle that the vines endure in this terrain results in grapes of lustrous quality and intense flavors. And because of these rugged, yet ideal conditions, the Heimark’s have successfully been producing immaculate grapes for their longtime clients who admire this site.

Now, they are turning the page to a new chapter under the sage guidance of the one and only Françoise Peschon. Françoise was the winemaker for the cult-cabernet producer Araujo Estate and has worked for and alongside Bart and Daphne Araujo since the 90s crafting their celebrated wines prior to its purchase by Château Latour in 2013. The San Francisco Chronicle recently named Françoise Winemaker of the Year in 2019, and we all know why: she’s brilliant and her talents are beyond impressive! Working closely with Michael Wolf (distinguished for replanting the To Kalon Vineyard and nurturing the Scarecrow Vineyard), who has managed the estate since day one, Françoise has gorgeously crafted another impeccable bottling of Cabernet Sauvignon from the illustrious Heimark Vineyard. The deep layers of fractured earth have formed a rough and well-drained soil for the vines, which require little water in spite of the elevation of 1,100 feet. The resilient vines strive like native plants, seeking water through fractured layers of volcanic rock and graphite. This results in intensely flavored wines with fine tannins, developing profound complexity with age. 

The aromatics of the 2019 Heimark Cabernet Sauvignon are restrained and not showy - this is a wine for those who appreciate nuance and grace. A gentle decant reveals notes of anise, clove, wild thyme, and dusty dried sage, giving way to a strong vein of minerality that, in turn, ushers in dark, brooding aromas of blackberry and mulberry. On the palate, inky black fruit with beads of bright acidity draws you in, and the tannins, so refined, melt away quietly. This vintage is, at its core, balanced and without any sharp edges, a wine of quiet confidence, of pure elegance and poise. The acidity fits meticulously within the frame of the wine, each moment leading effortlessly into the next, each sip revealing another layer of its sophisticated and graceful personality. The pedigree of this site is apparent, and even in its youth, it is clear that the 2019 Heimark is an instant classic.