2019 Howell Mountain Zinfandel

Black Sears Vineyard

Howell Mountain

ONLY 148 CASES

FALL CABERNET CLUB OPT-IN WINE
This gorgeous Zinfandel hails from the incredible Black Sears Vineyard — found (quite literally if you’ve got a decent arm) a stone’s throw from our estate vineyard gate at the top of Howell Mountain. When poured out, the wine’s signature Howell Mountain pedigree is immediately evident, with deep blackberry, white pepper and a refreshing minerality at the forefront.

750 ml

"I remember the heady days when we used to receive enough fruit to produce up to 500 cases of this single-vineyard Zinfandel. After Chris Jambois and Ashley Sears replanted a large portion of their vineyard to Cabernet, we get barely enough Zinfandel to drink ourselves, and distributors are singing the blues. 2019 was a tremendous vintage on Howell Mountain and this Zinfandel grown along the northern summit ridge is heady and perfumed with the classic exotic spice that makes Black Sears Vineyard unique. As this wine becomes increasingly scarce, this is your time to put a few bottles in the cellar for a later date. If you choose to enjoy this wine young, just give it a rest after shipping and then about two hours in a water pitcher or decanter prior to serving. I cannot stress enough that this wine is truly one of the great Zinfandels to be produced in California year in and year out."

VINEYARDS: Black Sears Vineyard
APPELLATION: Howell Mountain
COMPOSITION: 98% Zinfandel, 2% Malbec
CASES PRODUCED: 148

APPELLATION: HOWELL MOUNTAIN
ELEVATION: 2400' VARIETAL SOURCED: Zinfandel

Black Sears has “King of the Mountain” bragging rights on Howell Mountain - topping out at 2,400 feet, making it officially the highest vineyard on the mountain. The vineyard is located just past the gate of our Howell Mountain estate. And we now surround it – literally – having purchased the vineyard just on the other side of it as well. For 25 years, winemakers have clamored for the Zinfandel grown here: both biodynamic and organic, the site is dry farmed and the vines pruned in the old world style with no trellising. Zinfandel thrives in the mountain’s well-drained, rocky volcanic soils and moderate climate. Without doubt, the Black Sears Vineyard is the finest zinfandel vineyard in the world, and we are lucky to get a little fruit each year to make something special and rare.

Black Sears Zinfandel shows Howell Mountain's exotic, ground white pepper and spicebox in the nose, and even more so in the mouth. The breadth and length of the wine on the palate is what sets this zinfandel apart from so many others. There is no substitute for high elevation and shallow soils when it comes to developing flavor in zinfandel grapes, and Black Sears has those features in spades. This wine is forward and explosive in the nose, showing those Howell Mountain bramble berry fruits, but there is so much more that keeps emanating from the wine once it hits the palate; another terrific vintage for Black Sears Zinfandel.

VINEYARDS: Black Sears Vineyard
APPELLATION: Howell Mountain
COMPOSITION: 98% Zinfandel, 2% Malbec
CASES PRODUCED: 148

2019 Howell Mountain Zinfandel

About This Wine

Vineyard

Tasting Notes

2019 Howell Mountain Zinfandel

About This Wine

Vineyard

Tasting Notes

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