Winemaker Notes
Andosol draws inspiration from the historic field blends of California. The inherent stress the rugged site lends to grape growing will saturate the grapes with intensity and depth. An elegant example of this historic varietal, the 2017 Andosol is a reflection of all that Ink Grade has to offer, a wine polished and bold.
Blend: 88% Zinfandel, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of blueberries, plums, dried oregano, earth, tar and peppercorns. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and lively acidity. Vibrant and juicy with a crunchy finish. Drink now or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend that can change from vintage to vintage, the 2017 Andosol is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. While the nose is marked by scents of redcurrants and gentle herbal shadings, the palate is full-bodied but taut and juicy, with silky but firm tannins and ample length.
Ink Grade, Howell Mountain’s first monopole estate, produces the appellation’s greatest classical wines. The estate vineyard was first planted with vines in the 1870s by visionary pioneer, Theron Ink. Farmed organically and biodynamically since its inception and spanning eight hundred wild acres, our Estate is dotted with vine plantings that nurture and respect the natural habitat. Among the steeply terraced vineyards that cling to the iron-rich volcanic soils, there is a wild purity and raw tension here that awakens the senses. Winemaker Matt Taylor, formerly of Araujo Estate and Domaine Dujac, captures this untamed nature and preserves it by producing elegant, single-estate wines that express the pristine mountain fruit and legacy of the land. To do so requires patience and presence, taking the time to listen to what a place has to say and what it will give. This is an art. This is Ink Grade.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.