The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon exudes a regal sensibility from the glass. Plum, dark licorice and gravelly earth dance forth on the nose, while blackberry, dark roasted coffee and toasted oak seamlessly integrate on the palate. This vintage continues the legacy of truly profound Cabernet grown on the forested slopes of Howell Mountain.
Edition 35 | September 2021
Hello Mountain Wine Club!
This September, we are bringing you two highly sought-after mountain wines – the 2018 La Jota Vineyard Co. Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2018 Mt. Brave Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon. After missing a vintage of the cherished La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon in 2017, we are thrilled to offer you the 2018 vintage.
The 2018 growing season started with late winter rains followed by a spring marked with intermittent cloudy skies that likely delayed bud-break and owering. Fortunately, what came next were ideal fruit set conditions, driving up overall volumes by 20 to 30 percent. Steady summer heat with only a couple of short hike spikes, combined with a near-perfect fall season, created great phenolic accumulation without high sugar concentration.
As you taste and collect these wines, consider the rarity and quality of fruit that went into them and the joy and devotion we feel crafting them. We are so happy to share these super-special mountain wines with you.
Peace, Winemaker Chris Carpenter
2018 La Jota Vineyard Co.
Cabernet Sauvignon
2018 Mt. Brave
Cabernet Sauvignon
Grown on the rocky slopes of Mt. Veeder, the 2018 is mountain Cabernet at its finest. Aromas of blue and red fruits intermingle with a touch of baking spice. The tannins are firm yet refined while the weight on the palate is dense and lush. Compelling now, one can only imagine its true cellaring potential.