Duckhorn Vineyards Howell Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Wine

Duckhorn Vineyards Howell Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Wine

Duckhorn Vineyards has sourced grapes from this distinctive region for more than a quarter century and has crafted a Howell Mountain bottling since 1989. Recognized as one of the Napa Valley’s most acclaimed winegrowing regions, grapes from Howell Mountain are famous for producing age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignons with rich, deep color and excellent structure. To encourage further complexity, we bottle-age this mountain-grown wine one year longer than our other wines prior to release.

WINE PROFILE

Production Notes

Varietal Composition: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot

Winemaker Notes

On the nose, this stunning wine offers a bevy of mountain-fruit aromas including sweet baking spices, black raspberry, currant and blackberry, with hints of anise, clove and fresh mint adding nuance and complexity. On the palate it is robust and generous, echoing the aromas in waves of ripe dark berries and spice, with firm tannins and dusty minerality carrying the flavors to a remarkably long, lush finish.

Production

For both red and white grapes, 2018 offered near picture-perfect growing conditions, with mild spring and summer weather, and no significant heat events. The conditions were ideal for both our Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, which show beautiful tropical notes and ripe flavors at low sugars. While our Chardonnay harvest began about three weeks later than normal, the fruit arrived at the winery in pristine condition, producing dynamic and complex wines. The excellent growing conditions naturally resulted in a slightly larger than average crop for our red Bordeaux varieties, with fully lignified seeds at low sugars levels. With temperate weather throughout fall, we were able to pick each block at optimal ripeness, yielding exceptionally juicy and polished red wines, with plush, well-rounded tannins, and lovely overall structure.

WINE SPECS

Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Howell Mountain
Acid: 0.62 g/100 ml
pH: 3.71
Aging: Aged a total of 24 months 18 months in new French oak followed by 6 months in neutral barrels
Alcohol: %14.50