This Cabernet comes mostly from our 9.5‑acre Estate Vineyard on Howell Mountain, with a small amount of old‑vine fruit from Candlestick Ridge. Both sites sit at 2,300 feet along the summit ridge, and the tiny yields—barely a ton per acre—create incredible concentration. Those low yields give us remarkable skin‑to‑juice ratios, resulting in a wine with exceptional color, depth, and that signature Howell Mountain power.
Even with all that intensity, the wine keeps its energy and lift. It’s structured, mountain‑driven Cabernet, but not heavy or overripe—more like a Bordeaux with volcanic altitude. Enjoy it with a good decant at a cool temperature, or tuck it away in the cellar if you have the patience. This is a true Howell Mountain rarity.
Upon release, the vibrant, primary mass of dark fruits in the nose and mouth have pulled back to reveal the class and nuance that make this wine one of the Napa Valley’s very best reds each year. Crushed red rocks, dark thorny vine fruits, cassis and mountain wildflowers all pour from the glass.
Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 4% Merlot, 2% Petite Verdot
96 Vinous The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain) is another fabulous wine in this range. Inky dark fruit, lavender, wild flowers, jasmine, spice, crème de cassis and pencil shavings are all beautifully delineated. This deep, potent Howell Mountain Cabernet delivers the goods. (December 2023)
94 James Suckling Brooding and powerful with aromas of blackberries, dark cherries, crushed stones, tobacco and forest floor. The palate is full-bodied and firmly built with layered black fruit, mountain tannins and a strong mineral spine. Structured and persistent with serious aging potential. Best from 2030. (June 2025)
