
2018 Howell Mountain Cabernet
Tasting Notes
Rich blackberry & cassis, graphite, caramel& brown sugar, huge and unctuous
Description
Tucked away on a steep hillside of Howell Mountain lies a vineyard with no name. No fancy gates welcome the farmers that carefully tend to these Cabernet Sauvignon vines. And though it has no signs at the entrance, there is nothing hidden in the depth of flavors and unctuous concentration this wine showcases.
Growing Season
2018 delivered a late but incredible harvest. Beautiful weather during bloom allowed for a bounty of exceptional fruit. A cool, foggy summer with no heat events ensured slow even ripening, vibrant acidity and superb flavor development.
Vinification
All fruit is hand harvested at night, preserving berry integrity. After a 7-day cold soak, fruit is fermented with native yeast in an open top tank. Post-fermentation, the wine is drawn off and the must placed into a basket press for gentle pressing. The wine completes malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels and puncheons and is aged on the lees for 18 months before bottling.