Summit Lake Vineyards
Estate Bottled Howell Mountain Zinfandel
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA
Acid for days. Built for aging. Guaranteed.
Acid for days. Built for aging. Guaranteed.
Jul 13th, 2017
Brian Brakesman winemaker. Supple and smooth, slight vanilla, lush blackberry, subtle spice from old-vine Zin. Perfection to drink 2016 in 20121.
Brian Brakesman winemaker. Supple and smooth, slight vanilla, lush blackberry, subtle spice from old-vine Zin. Perfection to drink 2016 in 20121.
Aug 1st, 2021Bargain at Grocery Outlet. It held up the age very well, great structure and almost austere, but lost the fun fruit of sin, almost like a Syrah now. I admire it but I don’t quite enjoy it
Bargain at Grocery Outlet. It held up the age very well, great structure and almost austere, but lost the fun fruit of sin, almost like a Syrah now. I admire it but I don’t quite enjoy it
Jun 15th, 2020Dark and brooding ruby with very minimal signs of bricking. At ten years on, this is certainly starting to fade a bit but there’s still some good fruit to be had here, especially on the nose. Raspberries and strawberry jam initially with nuts and smoky oak later. This is, of course, made in the same big Napa style that so many modern day Zinfandels are made nowadays. Highly concentrated and so thick, this needs heavy decanting. High acid and sitting at 15.2 this is big and dense stuff. On the palate, there’s still some dark fruits remaining along with coffee, dried herbs, and a touch of leather. There’s life to be found here even though it isn’t my style.
Dark and brooding ruby with very minimal signs of bricking. At ten years on, this is certainly starting to fade a bit but there’s still some good fruit to be had here, especially on the nose. Raspberries and strawberry jam initially with nuts and smoky oak later. This is, of course, made in the same big Napa style that so many modern day Zinfandels are made nowadays. Highly concentrated and so thick, this needs heavy decanting. High acid and sitting at 15.2 this is big and dense stuff. On the palate, there’s still some dark fruits remaining along with coffee, dried herbs, and a touch of leather. There’s life to be found here even though it isn’t my style.
Jun 15th, 2019
What a beautiful wine. 21 years old.
What a beautiful wine. 21 years old.
Dec 26th, 2016
Holy Cow! Hold on to your seat! A woody aroma greets you with a meaty second wave. This is the quintessential Zin.
Holy Cow! Hold on to your seat! A woody aroma greets you with a meaty second wave. This is the quintessential Zin.
Jul 5th, 2016
One of the best Zins I've ever tasted. Will search for this again.
One of the best Zins I've ever tasted. Will search for this again.
Jan 23rd, 2016Took a little to open, caramelized cherry with hints of maple and super soft palate smooth strawberry marmalade.
Took a little to open, caramelized cherry with hints of maple and super soft palate smooth strawberry marmalade.
Jan 3rd, 2015Immediate aroma of raspberries. Immediate fruity light strawberry taste that continues to build in the roof of your mouth through the finish. Excellent wine although I couldn't taste the bread pudding like the expert said.
Immediate aroma of raspberries. Immediate fruity light strawberry taste that continues to build in the roof of your mouth through the finish. Excellent wine although I couldn't taste the bread pudding like the expert said.
Jan 27th, 2014