2016 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Winery & Candlestick Estate Vineyards

Howell Mountain

LIBRARY WINE

The 2016 Howell Mountain Cabernet is pinch hitting for the lost 2020 vintage of Mount Veeder in the Fall Cabernet Club selections, and it's showing beautifully with 7 years of perfect bottle age here in the Craig cellar.
Available to Members Only October 1-31, 2023
Join the membership waitlist here.

750 ml

Although it is painful to part with our seven-year-old library selection, that I had big plans for on the revenue front, it makes us all excited here at the winery to send our best customers an extraordinary Howell Mountain wine that has been perfectly cellared for immediate enjoyment. The 2016 Howell Mountain Cabernet will certainly go another decade plus in a good cellar, but it is showing beautifully right now. The initially hard tannin and tight fruit have released into a wine with harmonious density and weight in the mid palate and a perfume of dark mountain violet, red stones, and mint.

As predicted, this wine has progressed to display the qualities that all Mountain Cabernet lovers hold dear. Enjoy this privilege of membership while we look forward to the return of Mount Veeder next year.

VINEYARDS: Candlestick Ridge Vineyard, Winery Estate Vineyard
APPELLATION: Howell Mountain
COMPOSITION: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot
CASES PRODUCED: 1,843

WINERY ESTATE VINEYARD, HOWELL MOUNTAIN
The nine-acre Winery Estate Vineyard continues to demand constant attention – with huge variation in soils and microclimates. This site always has tiny yields – on average a meager 1.8 tones per acre. 2015 was even scarcer than usual, with early budbreak followed by cooler temperatures leading to a smaller crop.

CANDLESTICK RIDGE ESTATE VINEYARD, HOWELL MOUNTAIN
Just down the road, Candlestick Ridge is the northernmost vineyard in the Howell Mountain AVA and is slightly warmer than the summit ridge where the Winery Estate vineyard lies. Candlestick is influenced by warm air from Pope Valley to the east and – at its slightly lower elevation – it is protected from the constant wind that hits the ridge line. The big subsurface boulders were removed during the replanting, leaving thin tufa soil on top of a rocky volcanic bedrock.

Black cherry, rich, vibrant, crushed stone, graphite, high toned floral and violet, firm structure, concentrated and classic.

94 POINTS
“…Tightly wound and packed, the 2016 is full of energy. Raspberry jam, iron, dried flowers red flowers, mint and white pepper all help give the 2016 a decidedly high-toned profile, but it is the wine's energy and sense of drive that stand out most.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
12/14/18

93-95 POINTS
“Tasted as a barrel sample, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is another pure, elegant, classic wine from this estate. Blueberries, tobacco leaf, forest floor and underbrush notes all emerge from medium to full-bodied beauty that has ripe tannin, notable freshness, and again, awesome purity of fruit.”
Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com
12/29/17

Black cherry, rich, vibrant, crushed stone, graphite, high toned floral and violet, firm structure, concentrated and classic.

2016 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

About This Wine

Vineyard

Tasting Notes

Accolades

2016 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

About This Wine

Vineyard

Tasting Notes

Accolades

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