Wine Shop | 2022 HALL Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting notes

The 2022 Howell Mountain has a perfumed nose with super ripe plum, floral notes, black mulberry, assam black tea, black fruits, and crushed rocks. The palate opens with a powerful entry; the tannins are big, focused, polished; and supported by flavors of black licorice, tarry, intense; with a long delicious finish.

Black Plum
Lavender
Black Fruit
Crushed Rock

Vineyard notes

Howell Mountain AVA

Located atop the steep slopes rising to the east of St. Helena on the northern portion of the Vaca Mountain range, with elevations ranging from 1,400 to 2,600 feet.

Volcanic Heritage

The first soil type is decomposed volcanic ash; the second is the Aiken series, a red clay high in iron. In both cases, the soils are rocky, nutrient poor, and produce exceptionally intense wines.

Above the Fog

With elevations above the fog line, vines are allowed more sunlight hours, resulting in wines that are celebrated for their depth, concentration, and intensity.

Wine Facts

Perched 1400 feet above the valley floor, Howell Mountain is well above the fog line. This natural inversion layer assures the vineyards are drenched in sunlight from daybreak to sunset. Cooler spring temperatures cause buds to break later than average, and warm summer nights produce fruit of opulence and density. With rocky, infertile volcanic soils, the water is freely drained and the vines struggle and are low in vigor, producing intense wines from small clusters and berries.

Bottle Size

750ml

Varietal Composition

88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Saint Macaire, 4% Merlot

Barrel Aging

24 Months in 70% New French Oak

Vineyard Designation

Pierson and Posadas (Grower Partners)

Appellation

Howell Mountain and Napa Valley

Vintage Notes

Ample winter rain, followed by temperate and dry conditions through March gave us a good start to the vintage. The spring and summer months were consistent and warm, resulting in small but healthy canopies and balanced vines. Labor Day came with a curveball from Mother Nature in the form of a prolonged heat wave that accelerated harvest at many of our vineyard sites, followed immediately by much cooler weather and a bit of rain. This refreshing slow-down allowed the remaining grapes to hang a bit longer, yielding beautifully balanced fruit and polished tannin. Overall the 2022 vintage is fresh with pure, concentrated flavors.