La Jota Howell Mountain Cabernet Franc 2012 Front Label
La Jota Howell Mountain Cabernet Franc 2012 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

The 2012 growing season was near perfect, with ideal spring budbreak and warm, steady days balanced by cool nights. The steady weather continued into the fall, resulting in optimal ripening conditions at harvest. The 2012 Cabernet Franc has dark-cherry and blueberry character, with fine tannins. Intriguing brambly notes carry over a weighty, satisfying palate.

Professional Ratings

  • 91
    Cabernet Franc has always done well on Howell Mountain and La Jota’s 2012 Cabernet Franc (100% Cabernet Franc aged in 80% new French oak) exhibits attractive notes of forest floor, brambleberries, truffles, licorice and blue and black fruits. Medium-bodied and dense, with terrific fruit intensity, lots of glycerin, but no sense of heaviness or astringency, it should drink well for a decade.
La Jota Vineyards Co.

La Jota Vineyards Co.

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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.

EDV130548_2012E_2012 Item# 156398