Duckhorn Howell Mountain Red 2012

Wine & Spirits 92 points - This is a high-octane mountain cabernet, its sweet black fruit subdued by the richness of new French oak (95 percent of the lot), which works to tame its power and make it accessible in its youth. The flavors are dark in tone, from pipe tobacco to walnuts and soy. Decant it for an equally massive steak. (2,353 cases).April/2017

Duckhorn Vineyards has sourced grapes from Howell Mountain for more than a quarter century and has crafted a Howell Mountain bottling since 1989. Recognized as one of the Napa Valley’s most acclaimed winegrowing regions, grapes from Howell Mountain are famous for producing age-worthy Red Wines with rich, deep color and excellent structure. To encourage further complexity, we bottle-age this mountain-grown wine one year longer than our other wines prior to release.Capturing the essence of great mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a complex and beautifully structured wine with aromas of wild berries, red currant, dried herbs and graphite. The aromas carry through to the firm, round palate, where they mingle with layered flavors of vibrant red fruit, slate and hibiscus.Varietal Content 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot Cooperage 100% French oak château-style barrels (60 Gallons) Barrel Aging: 24 Months Age of Barrels: 95% new, 5% neutral