Winemaker Notes
Named after the founder of To Kalon, H.W.C is produced from one single clonal selection of Cabernet Sauvignon within To Kalon. These vines were originally planted by Robert Mondavi, who was lured to To Kalon by the depth and richness of the wines he made from the vineyard in the 1960s. This incredibly low-yielding selection of Cabernet Sauvignon produces wines with high energy, a black-purple color, and exceptional aromatic and palate intensity—a high-resolution look at this noble variety.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has amazing fruit at the end of the palate, creating an endless finish of raspberry, boysenberry and blackcurrant. Spice, too. It’s full-bodied with compact fruit. The essence of cabernet sauvignon. Remarkable wine, with energy, depth and purity.
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Jeb Dunnuck
In the same qualitative ballpark as the Eliza's, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon H.W.C has everything you could want from Napa Cabernet, revealing a dense purple hue, incredible black raspberry and cassis fruit, full-bodied richness, velvety tannins, and remarkable complexity in its spicy, floral, violet, and tobacco-laced aromatics. Despite being a big, rich Cabernet, it has a solid sense of freshness and stays light and graceful, with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Don't miss it.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Named for the initials of the vineyard's original owner, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon H.W.C. features aromas of dark chocolate and cassis, with subtle notes of wood in the background. Hints of dark loam and Asian spice bring added complexity. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and complete, the HWC offers ample generosity from start to finish, a luscious and decadent yet savory expression of Oakville.
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Wine Spectator
A textbook Oakville big boy, with a prodigious structure that's polished and plush in feel, supporting large waves of warmed cassis, steeped plum and blackberry reduction. Winey and muscular but with detail and cut, as apple wood, sweet bay leaf and anise add a mouthwatering aspect to the finish. Impressive. Best from 2024 through 2038.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.