Our Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon leads with boisterous aromas of blueberry bramble, strawberry rhubarb, and tannery hide, the 2022 Howell Mountain balances fresh fruit with rugged intrigue. Beneath the first aromatic layer are invigorating wafts of fresh alpine needles, sweet vanilla, cinnamon, and pomegranate arils. On the palate, the wine leads with a sweet introduction, followed by a rich mid-palate bolstered by thick tannin. Throughout, there’s a lengthy and driving acidity, around which alluring notes like sweet cranberry and mocha are wound. Pair this one with lamb ragu over pappardelle. Enjoy now or cellar up to 17-22 years.
The 2022 growing season in Napa Valley saw record-breaking weather events, with 80% of the total rainfall arriving before the new year. This filled vineyard ponds for the first time in two years but was followed by the driest three months on record, leading to an early bud break. Despite the dry spell, healthier canopies resulted from earlier rains. The summer was generally average but slightly warmer than 2021. Harvest started 5 to 7 days earlier than the previous year and was 15% lighter but of exceptional quality. A Labor Day heat wave accelerated harvest, later cooled by a late September rain event. Overall, the 2022 harvest was the most condensed in recent memory.
Harvested on October 24th through 31st, the grapes were hand-harvested at night when temperatures often dip to 50˚F to capture vibrant acidity and fruit expression in the wine. We first cold-soaked the must (crushed grapes) for gentle extraction and then fermented in stainless steel, concrete, and oak barrel fermenters at 92˚F. Rigorous pump-overs, increasing during the peak of the fermentation, developed deep color, rich varietal character and fine tannins in the wine. The wine was aged in 80% new French oak barrels to meld the bright fruit expression with oak spice nuances. After three months of aging, we blended the vineyard components and allow them to marry for a total of 26 months of barrel élevage. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered to present the attributes of the vineyard in the purest form possible, from the dirt to the glass!