Brendel Cabernet Sauvignon Coopers Reed Napa Valley 2019

Over the next 35 years, Joe Heitz worked tirelessly to understand every nook and cranny of his prized Trailside vineyard in Napa Valley’s beloved Rutherford AVA. For example, the soils near the northern end of the vineyard – closest to Quintessa – are primarily Cortina (or very deep, excessively drained soils often in a former flood plain). Vines plunge incredibly deep into the soil here.

Nearly 25 years before this was commonplace, Joe crafted a plan for how to handle each individual parcel, and then how to ferment each separately and then masterly blend to achieve the ‘Trailside Cabernet’ style.

It’s a historic wine and a formula you don’t F$%^ with … unless you really, REALLY want to. Current head winemaker, Brittany Sherwood’s primary job is preserving the legacy of Heitz Cellars but it’s pretty irresistible to take just a few barrels of Trailside Vineyard Cabernet and make it the more modern way.