Howell Mountain Vineyards
Howell Mountain Old Vine Zinfandel
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA
About to go grill a beautiful porterhouse and popped this to go with it. So dead-on for old vine Howell Mountain fruit: intense cracked black peppercorn earthiness, stone dust, dark wild berry fruit. Palate is dense with the same components but whisked along by electric-tingly acids. It’s so hard to find that sweet spot of fruit, earth, acid, and this nails it. God this is good.
About to go grill a beautiful porterhouse and popped this to go with it. So dead-on for old vine Howell Mountain fruit: intense cracked black peppercorn earthiness, stone dust, dark wild berry fruit. Palate is dense with the same components but whisked along by electric-tingly acids. It’s so hard to find that sweet spot of fruit, earth, acid, and this nails it. God this is good.
Aug 9th, 2023Wowza. Old vine Zin from Howell Mountain, treated gently and not too ripe, leads with an earthy black peppercorn note and this has it. Underneath is spicy dark berry fruit. On the palate the peppercorn earthiness follows through, but ripe crimson berry fruit is there, spice, and there is electric ⚡️⚡️acidity. Tannins are soft, zero jamminess. Just beautiful.
Wowza. Old vine Zin from Howell Mountain, treated gently and not too ripe, leads with an earthy black peppercorn note and this has it. Underneath is spicy dark berry fruit. On the palate the peppercorn earthiness follows through, but ripe crimson berry fruit is there, spice, and there is electric ⚡️⚡️acidity. Tannins are soft, zero jamminess. Just beautiful.
Dec 4th, 2022Truncated party notes. Like a Second Growth Bordeaux made from Zinfandel. Nose showing more secondary and tertiary notes than fruit. Full and elegant. Great with grilled porterhouses.
Truncated party notes. Like a Second Growth Bordeaux made from Zinfandel. Nose showing more secondary and tertiary notes than fruit. Full and elegant. Great with grilled porterhouses.
Jun 21st, 2021I am very excited to drink this. From old vine Zin grapes grown on my favorite site (Beatty Ranch in Howell Mountain). And on cue it delivers that classic Beatty Ranch earthy black peppercorn spice on the nose, hovering over dark, very spicy blackberry and crushed rock. Absolutely attacks the palate with savory flavors. But no jamminess in the least. Very full but the 14.5 is well hidden. Such a long finish. Love this.
I am very excited to drink this. From old vine Zin grapes grown on my favorite site (Beatty Ranch in Howell Mountain). And on cue it delivers that classic Beatty Ranch earthy black peppercorn spice on the nose, hovering over dark, very spicy blackberry and crushed rock. Absolutely attacks the palate with savory flavors. But no jamminess in the least. Very full but the 14.5 is well hidden. Such a long finish. Love this.
Jul 26th, 2019Upper echelon Zin. Alc. kept reasonable at 14.5%. Nose has pure, perfectly ripe spicy blackberry, gravel, a whisp of high-toned smoke. Good ripeness in the mouth but balanced beautifully with surprising acids, which keep it buoyant. Tannins there but super-soft and just hanging out in the background. Reminiscent of the Zins of yore.
Upper echelon Zin. Alc. kept reasonable at 14.5%. Nose has pure, perfectly ripe spicy blackberry, gravel, a whisp of high-toned smoke. Good ripeness in the mouth but balanced beautifully with surprising acids, which keep it buoyant. Tannins there but super-soft and just hanging out in the background. Reminiscent of the Zins of yore.
1 person found it helpfulJan 9th, 2022
Might need to rethink my opinion on Zinfandel. Was quite good and drinkable.
Might need to rethink my opinion on Zinfandel. Was quite good and drinkable.
Jul 21st, 2015
Past it’s prime. Great garnet but a tad acidic and bitter on finish. Possible oxidation given crumbled cork. #winebid $29.36
Past it’s prime. Great garnet but a tad acidic and bitter on finish. Possible oxidation given crumbled cork. #winebid $29.36
Apr 8th, 2018
Ripe red berry fruit, medium body, medium tannins, medium high acid. A great light bodied Zinfandel that pairs well with food. Specifically spaghetti!
Ripe red berry fruit, medium body, medium tannins, medium high acid. A great light bodied Zinfandel that pairs well with food. Specifically spaghetti!
Jan 9th, 2018
From 100 year old vine, this is a big, juicy Zinfandel. Dark fruits, date, cherry coke, spices, syrup, and hot chocolate. Round and thick, almost oily on the palate but managed not to be heavy with just enough acidity and high profile of alcohol.
From 100 year old vine, this is a big, juicy Zinfandel. Dark fruits, date, cherry coke, spices, syrup, and hot chocolate. Round and thick, almost oily on the palate but managed not to be heavy with just enough acidity and high profile of alcohol.
Dec 14th, 2017