Winemaker Notes
Very consistent in style with their two prior Mole Hill bottlings, this wine clearly expresses the classic Howell Mountain briary, spicy characteristics of blackberries, Asian spices, boysenberry and dark chocolate. The mid palate is laden with roasted coffee and vanilla flavors. It has vibrant bright acidity and the firm but fine glossy tannins often seen from the appellation, and ends with a cigar box and creamy vanillin finish, showing youthfulness and great finesse with the potential for longevity in the cellar.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.