$65/bottle under the original label
I continue to be impressed by the gorgeously fruited 2019’s. The wines are lithe and sexy, showing very open-knit with mature, melt-in-your mouth quality to the tannins. This vintage will show nicely in its youth and, while not as age-worthy as the 2018's, cellar beautifully.
Lot 232 is quintessential 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet. It comes to us from a boutique, low-production estate vineyard planted carte blanche by a legendary Napa veteran winemaker on the eastern backside of Howell Mountain just couple hundred yards from the Howell Mountain AVA. The rolling hills here undulate between 800-and 1000-feet (well below the 1400-foot threshold of Howell AVA) but the soils are exceptionally well-drained mixing rocky shale with the quintessential volcanic tufa of Howell Mountain.
In short, no expense was spared in the production of this wine. Having received 92- and 93-point scores from the Advocate and Suckling for their 2016 and 2017 vintages, this wine is, comparatively speaking, a hell of a deal deal at $65/bottle when compared to other Napa Valley Cabernet's. At $35/bottle, I am confident you will be thrilled with this this excellent Cabernet. Only 250 cases available.
Deep ruby/opaque but, as is emblematic of the vintage, rich and lifted aromatically with ripe blackberry, raspberry candy, volcanic red rock, and sweet/powdered pink flower all very well-defined and all very expressive. Succulent and juicy on entry with velvety waves of blackberry, pepper, raspberry and vanilla riding ultra-fine tannins. This is a fabulous Cabernet that will drink exceedingly well in its youth and over the next decade or more.
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petite Verdot
