Howell Mountain was recognized as the first AVA within the greater confines of the Napa Valley AVA in 1983, but its wines were taking home medals at international contests long before that. In 1889, Jean Adolph Brun and Jean V. Chaix won a bronze medal at the Paris World Competition for a wine made with Howell Mountain grapes. Ten years later, two other early hillside settlers, W.S. Keyes and Frederick Hess, were awarded gold and bronze medals, respectively, for their Howell Mountain wines.
What makes this small American Viticultural Area different from many other wine regions is that its borders are defined not just by geographic limits but by altitude and to that end all vineyards must be a minimum of 1,400 feet above sea level. This means that Howell Mountain’s vines sit above the fog line, basking in full sunlight throughout the day while many of Napa and Sonoma’s vineyards are covered in fog each morning. These conditions help develop grapes with very thick skin that offers a higher peel to juice ration and stronger tannins, and because of this most Howell Mountain wines can be a bit bolder than their valley floor compatriots. You can certainly drink the newer versions now, but don’t forget these wines are also built to last for decades.
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Bravante 2018 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa Valley
The Bravante family planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc in 1998 and Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec in 2000. They built their estate winery in four years between 2005 and 2009 and today are proud to offer hospitality and tastings of their 100 percent estate produced wines to visitors. This delightful wine is crafted by winemaker Philip Titus and is composed of 96 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5 percent Malbec, and 1.5 percent Petit Verdot. It has aromas of cigar box, eucalyptus, and black plum with silky smooth tannins and flavors of red plum, black raspberry, cassis, and mocha. Drink now through 2030.
Buy Now: $100
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Cade 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa Valley
Cade Estate consists of 54 acres in the middle of the Howell Mountain AVA at elevations between 1,500 and 1,850 feet. It has of 21 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Malbec under vine, is organically farmed, and has earned both California Certified Organic Farmers and Napa Green certifications. Danielle Cyrot is the winemaker and under her guidance the estate has successfully implemented screw caps for their luxury wines. We tasted this screw cap bottled wine and found aromas of black cherry, cherry cola, and blue fruits. Although this wine clocks in at 15.9 percent ABV it maintains its freshness and does not feel hot in the mouth or throat; in fact, its flavors of black raspberry, black plum, and cassis felt vivacious and vibrant in the mid palate. Drink now through 2041.
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Charles Krug 2019 Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa Valley
Charles Krug was established in 1861 and is owned by the Peter Mondavi Sr. side of the extensive Napa-based Mondavi family. Grapes for this delightful wine are grown on the family estate at altitudes of 1,650 feet above the Napa Valley floor on the southwest side of Howell Mountain. The talented winemaker Stacy Clark recalls the 2019 growing season as steady and even, with a leisurely harvest of well matured grapes that lasted from late August into November. While the grapes were a bit smaller than normal, they imparted excellent color, balanced acidity, and good concentration of flavors. The 2019 Family Reserve Cab is composed of 96 percent Cabernet Sauvignon with 4 percent Petit Verdot and it is important to note that only 600 cases of this delicious wine were produced. Aromas of caramel, pencil lead, mocha, and black cherry set you up for a burst of ripe red and black fruits flavors in the mid palate. The tannins are pleasantly grippy and the acidity is very well balanced. The finish is soft and supple with lasting flavors of cherry vanilla, toasted hazelnuts, and espresso bean.
Buy Now: $165
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Clif Family 2019 Croquet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa Valley
This single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Clif Family’s Croquet Vineyard named for the professional croquet court on the property. It has loam soils with ample deposits of clay that aid in water retention in times of decreased rainfall. The grapes are cold soaked for three days after harvest and then inoculated with cultured yeasts. After fermentation the wines are aged in French oak barrels (90 percent new) for 20 months. This tantalizing Cab has aromas of blue fruits, crushed purple flowers, black raspberry, and dark chocolate with balanced acidity, pleasantly grippy tannins, and flavors of black plum, mocha, and blueberry.
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Duckhorn Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa Valley
The team at Duckhorn has recognized Howell Mountain’s unique terroir and has been making a Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon since 1989. Because of the deep color, rich texture, and excellent structure of these mountain wines, they choose to age them for an additional year in bottle before release. The 2019 is a blend of 90 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 9 percent Merlot, and 1 percent Cabernet Franc. It has aromas of black currant, cigar box, eucalyptus, and black raspberry with flavors of dark chocolate, Mission fig, espresso bean, and dried cherry.
Buy Now: $110
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Grand Napa Vineyards 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa Valley
The land on which Grand Napa Vineyards sits was once part of Rancho Caymus, which was given to George Yount by General Mariano G. Vallejo in 1838. Remnants of the past still exist at the winery, including an 1888 bunkhouse and a hand-hewn stone crib. The new owners replanted Cabernet Sauvignon (Clone 6 and Clone 337) vines in 1999. Their 2021 Howell Mountain wine is 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon grown at 1,500 feet elevation and aged for 20 months in 50 percent new French oak barrels. It is dark ruby garnet with aromas of cedar, garigue, black raspberry, and cassis with flavors of black currant, Bing cherry, graphite, and dried Mediterranean herbs. Only 80 cases were produced. Drink now through 2035.
Buy Now: $145
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O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa Valley
Betty O’Shaughnessy was the owner of a cooking school in her home state of Minnesota and subsequently fell in love with Napa Valley. She acquired a parcel of land in Oakville in 1990 with a lovely home and existing vineyards and today she and her husband Paul Woolls produce wine from their estate vineyard as well as wine from Mount Veeder and Howell Mountain. Their 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of black cherry, red plum, blueberry, pencil shavings, and Indian spice box that lead you to a palate filled with flavors of dried cherry, cedar, tobacco leaf, espresso bean, and dark chocolate.
Buy Now: $110
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Ink Grade 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa Valley
Situated in the northeast corner of the Howell Mountain AVA, Ink Grade Estate vineyard has one of the best views in Napa Valley. Slopes so steep that they have to be terraced are home to volcanic soils that offer complexity and power to the grapes grown here. Made with fruit selected from prized vines in the estate’s highest elevation vineyards, the wine was first aged in a larger oak tank before being transferred to mostly previously used barrels for a softer touch of oak. Aromas of cherry clafoutis, candied violet, and pencil lead prepare the taste buds for dark berry, river rock, clove, and nutmeg flavors wrapped in a luscious cloak of elegant tannins.
Buy Now: $195
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Summit Lake Vineyards 2019 Emily Kestrel Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa Valley
With estate vineyards soaring to 2,100 feet, Summit Lake Vineyards only produced 4,200 bottles of this 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. Made with clone 8 planted in 1973, and more recently planted clone 337 cultivated to perfection by winegrower Bob Brakesman, this sumptuous cuvée was crafted by winemaker Brian Brakesman. Barrel aging for 24 months in 65 percent new French oak adds gorgeous touches of vanilla and coffee bean to aromas of blackberry and black currant. Plush tannins and unwavering acidity offer a mouth-pleasing backdrop to flavors of raspberry, purple plum, lavender and granite with a closing note of freshly ground black pepper.
Buy Now: $105
