Arkenstone
Obsidian Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA
I brought this for James the husband of our birthday girl Christina. James loves bold Napa Cabernet. This 07 Arkenstone Howell Mountain was drinking beautifully but will still benefit from another 3-5 years in bottle and has another 10+ years of drinking ahead. The one distinct character I always get from Howell Mtn. are the beautiful blue fruits they generally show. The Arkenstone didn’t disappoint. Beautiful dark cassis with blue fruits shining throughout. Bold, round, elegant body, beautiful balance of fruit and earth and well polished long finish.
I brought this for James the husband of our birthday girl Christina. James loves bold Napa Cabernet. This 07 Arkenstone Howell Mountain was drinking beautifully but will still benefit from another 3-5 years in bottle and has another 10+ years of drinking ahead. The one distinct character I always get from Howell Mtn. are the beautiful blue fruits they generally show. The Arkenstone didn’t disappoint. Beautiful dark cassis with blue fruits shining throughout. Bold, round, elegant body, beautiful balance of fruit and earth and well polished long finish.
Mar 3rd, 2018
Glad this guy is our winemaker
Glad this guy is our winemaker
1 person found it helpfulDec 27th, 2015
07' Arkenstone Obsidian. This bottle turned out to be quite nice. I've had bottle variations in the past of this vintage. 30 minutes in the decanter it opened up. 10+ years left in it.
07' Arkenstone Obsidian. This bottle turned out to be quite nice. I've had bottle variations in the past of this vintage. 30 minutes in the decanter it opened up. 10+ years left in it.
Jan 24th, 201607' A must decant. Big nose. Blackberries, black currant. Drinking a little thinner then previous bottles of the 07'. I'll revisit it again next year.
07' A must decant. Big nose. Blackberries, black currant. Drinking a little thinner then previous bottles of the 07'. I'll revisit it again next year.
Oct 2nd, 201530 to 45 minutes in the decanter. Black raspberry, blackberry, chocolate notes. So approachable! It's got many many years it's prime left.
30 to 45 minutes in the decanter. Black raspberry, blackberry, chocolate notes. So approachable! It's got many many years it's prime left.
Jul 12th, 2015
Drinking absolutely beautifully right now.
Drinking absolutely beautifully right now.
May 4th, 2019Gotta be really careful here. This bottle is as good. Not 9.8 good. The complex blackberry cassis, pencil shavings, herbal front is incredible. This doesn't resemble an 07 Howell Mtn. Would have guessed 11 or 12. Pride Brother and Sister PNV outdid this wine by a narrow margin, but I don't think I've had many 9.5+ bottles in 20 years and nearly 2600 bottles. The power and peppery black licorice finish just kept going and going. OMG. Not worthy!!!
Gotta be really careful here. This bottle is as good. Not 9.8 good. The complex blackberry cassis, pencil shavings, herbal front is incredible. This doesn't resemble an 07 Howell Mtn. Would have guessed 11 or 12. Pride Brother and Sister PNV outdid this wine by a narrow margin, but I don't think I've had many 9.5+ bottles in 20 years and nearly 2600 bottles. The power and peppery black licorice finish just kept going and going. OMG. Not worthy!!!
Jul 11th, 2018A bit bland. Super tannic still. A bit disappointed given that I had waited awhile to open.
A bit bland. Super tannic still. A bit disappointed given that I had waited awhile to open.
Sep 17th, 2016
Talented Winemaker Sam Kaplan has been doing amazing work up there on Howell Mountain. Had the 2006 a week before and now this 2007. Amazed at the subtle differences. Going for 2008 next.
Talented Winemaker Sam Kaplan has been doing amazing work up there on Howell Mountain. Had the 2006 a week before and now this 2007. Amazed at the subtle differences. Going for 2008 next.
Dec 27th, 2015