The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, like the Affinity 2020 released earlier this year, was a happy accident of removing too much protective leaf cover in August (an Elton Slone miscalculation) after an unusually cool, wet Spring put things behind schedule in the vineyard. When the temperatures soared in September on Howell Mountain, the early ripening blocks on Candlestick Ridge Vineyard and at the Winery Estate Vineyard needed to be picked and processed. The Cabernet, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec that hit the crush pad was deeply colored and high in tannins and acidity. In other words, the wine had excellent structure.
After a careful ferment that Jason managed with an eye on preventing harsh tannin extraction, the resulting wine has proved to be a classic rendition of Howell Mountain Cabernet featuring red stone minerality, thorny vine black fruit accents and suppleness in the mid palate. How I wish that mother nature had allowed us more than the few hundred cases in 2020, a vintage that was shaping up to be exceptional in every way. Enjoy this tiny production gem that keeps our Howell Mountain Cabernet release streak alive at thirty consecutive vintages here at Robert Craig Winery. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 3% Merlot
CASES PRODUCED: 525
After a careful ferment that Jason managed with an eye on preventing harsh tannin extraction, the resulting wine has proved to be a classic rendition of Howell Mountain Cabernet featuring red stone minerality, thorny vine black fruit accents and suppleness in the mid palate. How I wish that mother nature had allowed us more than the few hundred cases in 2020, a vintage that was shaping up to be exceptional in every way. Enjoy this tiny production gem that keeps our Howell Mountain Cabernet release streak alive at thirty consecutive vintages here at Robert Craig Winery. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 3% Merlot
CASES PRODUCED: 525