Heritance Cabernet Sauvignon

Heritance Cabernet Sauvignon is a Napa Valley red wine (750ml, approximately 14.1–14.6% ABV depending on vintage) grounded in a classic French winemaking philosophy. Scoring 93 points from James Suckling on the 2013 vintage, this Cabernet-dominant blend traces its origins to Bernard Portet, who spent nearly four decades at the helm of Clos du Val before launching Heritance as a personal project.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.1–14.6% (varies by vintage)  |  Origin: Napa Valley, California  |  Style: Bordeaux-Inspired Red Blend  |  Producer: Taub Family Vineyards (Heritance Vintners)

Production & Heritage

Bernard Portet co-founded Clos du Val in 1972 and directed its winemaking for 38 years before establishing Heritance, drawing on four generations of winemaking knowledge stretching back to the early 1930s in France. Taub Family Vineyards acquired the brand in 2013, preserving the restrained, balance-driven style Portet championed — deliberately avoiding the super-ripe, heavily extracted approach common in modern Napa Cabernet. The 2019 blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot; grapes are hand-harvested and hand-sorted, cold soaked for three to five days, fermented over 14 days with daily pumpovers, given an extended maceration of 7 to 14 days, and aged 22 months in 100% French oak barrels (50% new).

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark berries, blackberry, and cassis form the aromatic core, layered with dried herb, cedar, clove, and cigar box. Subtle graphite and tobacco leaf add savory depth as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is supple and juicy, delivering lush red cherry, blackberry, and plum. Mid-palate, black currant and crushed rock emerge alongside well-integrated oak that contributes vanilla and faint roasted coffee notes. The overall impression is one of structured elegance — powerful concentration held in check by vibrant freshness.

Finish: Medium-long with chewy, well-integrated tannins that taper gradually into hints of black pepper and cedar. The finish stays balanced, never heavy, reflecting the wine's restrained winemaking philosophy.

How to Drink Heritance Cabernet

This wine shows its full complexity when served at 60–65°F in a large Bordeaux glass; thirty minutes of decanting softens the tannins and opens the aromatic layers. Neat sipping is the primary recommendation, though it adapts well to food-forward settings. A classic Cabernet Sangria built with dark stone fruit and a splash of brandy lets the wine's berry intensity shine. A Red Wine Reduction drizzled over steak leverages the concentrated cassis and plum notes. And for a contemporary cocktail, a New York Sour — where the wine floats over bourbon and citrus — benefits from the Heritance's vibrant acidity and structured tannins.

Best For

• Gifting a wine enthusiast who appreciates Old World–styled Napa Cabernet
• Pairing with a grilled ribeye dinner or special-occasion steak night
• Building a cellar of age-worthy Napa Valley reds
• Pouring at a guided tasting comparing Bordeaux-inspired California wines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Heritance Cabernet taste like? It leads with ripe blackberry, cherry, and cassis, backed by cedar, dried herb, and subtle vanilla from French oak aging. The tannins are firm but well-integrated, and the overall profile prioritizes balance and freshness over extraction.

How does Heritance Cabernet compare to Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon? Bernard Portet founded Heritance after retiring from Clos du Val, so both wines share a restrained, classically structured Napa Cabernet philosophy. Heritance tends to reflect a slightly more personal, small-production expression of that same Bordeaux-influenced approach.

Is Heritance Cabernet good for sipping neat? Yes — its layered aromatics, structured tannins, and moderate alcohol make it well-suited to quiet, contemplative sipping, especially after a brief decant to let the secondary aromas develop.

Where is Heritance Cabernet made? Heritance Cabernet Sauvignon is produced in Napa Valley, California, under the direction of Taub Family Vineyards, which acquired the brand from founder Bernard Portet in 2013.

What foods pair well with Heritance Cabernet? Grilled lamb chops complement the wine's herbal and cedar notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère echo the savory oak undertones. Braised short ribs mirror its dark fruit richness. Roasted portobello mushrooms match the earthy graphite character. Dark chocolate with 70% cacao aligns with the wine's concentrated finish.

What sizes does Heritance Cabernet come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Heritance Cabernet worth the price? Heritance positions as a mid-premium Napa Valley Cabernet, delivering 22 months of French oak aging and hand-harvested, hand-sorted fruit at a price point well below many single-vineyard Napa bottlings — strong value for the quality tier it occupies.

Why Heritance Cabernet?

What distinguishes this wine is its direct lineage to one of Napa Valley's founding-era winemakers. Bernard Portet brought a French sensibility to California Cabernet decades before "balance" became an industry talking point, and Heritance is the distilled expression of that conviction — moderate alcohol, integrated oak, and fruit that complements rather than dominates. A 93-point score from James Suckling on the 2013 vintage confirms the approach translates to critical recognition, not just philosophy. For drinkers seeking a Napa Cabernet that shows restraint without sacrificing concentration, this bottling occupies a distinctive niche.