No discussion of mountain-grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon would be complete without mentioning Robert Craig. He is “the man” when it comes to this category of wine, and he helped establish Howell Mountain as one of the world’s great sites for Cabernet Sauvignon.
Long before “Mountain Cabernet” became a marketing buzzword, Robert Craig was proving that the high-elevation vineyards of Howell Mountain could produce wines of incredible power, structure, and age-worthiness while still maintaining freshness and balance. While Mr. Craig passed away in 2019, the estate remains in the very capable hands of CEO Elton Slone, who has stayed remarkably true to Craig’s original vision.
That vision is fully realized in the sensational 2021 vintage. Produced from nearly 50-year-old vines planted at 2,300 feet in elevation, this is monumental Cabernet Sauvignon. Tiny yields resulted in a wine of tremendous concentration and depth, but it never loses its freshness, structure, or signature mineral edge.
Inky-dark in color, this comes roaring out of the glass with classic notes of crème de cassis, blackberry, mulberry, crushed rock, lavender, mountain herbs, and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, layered, and built to age gracefully through 2040, it is already drinking beautifully with a couple of hours in the decanter.
If you love mountain-grown Napa Cabernet, this will make your head spin. Get some before it disappears.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
