2018 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Winery Estate

Howell Mountain

94 POINTS

“A powerful, driving wine, the Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is loaded with character. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice, lavender and spice emerge, but only with great reluctance. Readers will have to be patient here. The Howell Mountain Cabernet emerges from Robert Craig's Summit Lake estate vineyard. Drinking window 2025-2038,”
- Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 3/1/21

750 ml

Available in 750ml | 1.5L Magnum | 3L

"2018 was a standout vintage for most of the Napa Valley, though northeast Napa Vineyards struggled with smoke from the Ranch and River fires to the north. Fortunately, the upper sections of our Winery Estate Vineyard and Candlestick Ridge Vineyard were unaffected by the smoke that stubbornly settled into the lower portions of our properties. (Another advantage to being at the top of the mountain.) The fruit that was harvested and made into our estate bottling was free from smoke taint and of extraordinary quality. Antonio Galloni gave us rave reviews for the 2018 release, though possibly tempered a bit by the difficulties of our downstairs neighbors that year."
- President/CEO Elton Slone

COMPOSITION: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 1% Merlot
CASES PRODUCED: 1989

WINERY ESTATE VINEYARD, HOWELL MOUNTAIN
The nine-acre Winery Estate Vineyard continues to demand constant attention – with huge variation in soils and microclimates. The yields are on average a meager 1.8 tons to the acre, but the fruit possesses a rare power and expression of site. Soils are especially shallow, even for Howell Mountain, and the vines must work through the rocky soils to seek moisture.

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.

The 2018 Howell Mountain Estate Cabernet shows the typical thorny stem fruit that is a Howell Mountain hallmark. Deep, dark nuances of iron, graphite and crushed rock dance around the core of black fruit that coats the palate. The 2018 exhibits the racy energy of the vintage in every way, and this wine should easily cellar for decades despite the balance that makes it possible to enjoy while young. The red volcanic soils and pure tufa of Candlestick combine to produce a structured, towering cabernet in 2018.

94 points
“A powerful, driving wine, the Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is loaded with character. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice, lavender and spice emerge, but only with great reluctance. Readers will have to be patient here. The Howell Mountain Cabernet emerges from Robert Craig's Summit Lake estate vineyard. Drinking window 2025-2038,”
- Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 3/1/21

2018 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

About This Wine

Vineyard

Tasting Notes

Accolades

2018 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

About This Wine

Vineyard

Tasting Notes

Accolades

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