Ink Grade Estate
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
Candied and sweet red and blue fruits.
Candied and sweet red and blue fruits.
Nov 22nd, 2023
VERY deep red color, with medium body but a very restrained nose even after a few hours of aeration. What nose there is is a nice balance of fruit and baking depth, almost like cinnamon or nutmeg? The fruit is first forward, with plum, black cherry and rich dark fruit, with notes of some deep greenery, some hints at meaty notes, and potpourri. The tannins are actually well integrated, light grippers but juicy fruit. It’s surprisingly a thinner can than I was expecting, but that’s part of what makes it special I feels it bucks at Napa trends and stocks with a long, rich, fruit forward finish, with some cacao, woody and light smoky notes. Maybe a slight milkiness, like hot coca, violet and slight peppery notes with nice acidity.
VERY deep red color, with medium body but a very restrained nose even after a few hours of aeration. What nose there is is a nice balance of fruit and baking depth, almost like cinnamon or nutmeg? The fruit is first forward, with plum, black cherry and rich dark fruit, with notes of some deep greenery, some hints at meaty notes, and potpourri. The tannins are actually well integrated, light grippers but juicy fruit. It’s surprisingly a thinner can than I was expecting, but that’s part of what makes it special I feels it bucks at Napa trends and stocks with a long, rich, fruit forward finish, with some cacao, woody and light smoky notes. Maybe a slight milkiness, like hot coca, violet and slight peppery notes with nice acidity.
Dec 15th, 2024
Black and red berry notes pop. Opening nicely over an hour or two.
Black and red berry notes pop. Opening nicely over an hour or two.
Jul 29th, 2023
I convinced a friend to attend a pop and pour tasting for Heitz Cellar last night. The lineup included:
* 2017 Lot C-91 - Previously made once in 1961.
* 2016 Trailside Vineyard -
* 2016 Martha’s Vineyard -
* 2017 Howell Mountain Ink Grade
I love producers that have not strayed from what I call that “classic Napa style,” and I also love mountain fruit. The Heitz Trailside and Martha’s were both really nice (Martha gets an extra star from me), Ink Grade was next level.
Ink Grade is hugely massive, complex, powerful, and fresh, all at the same time. This wine easily falls in my top 3 favorite discoveries in 2022.
Details: 100% Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Harvest Date September 6, 2017. 100% French Oak. Bottled on March 8, 2021. ABV 14%.
This wine deserves a fabulous pairing. Our loss that the Jimmy Hendrix/Miles Davis collaboration never happened, but if it had I would be listening to them with this bottle.
I convinced a friend to attend a pop and pour tasting for Heitz Cellar last night. The lineup included:
* 2017 Lot C-91 - Previously made once in 1961.
* 2016 Trailside Vineyard -
* 2016 Martha’s Vineyard -
* 2017 Howell Mountain Ink Grade
I love producers that have not strayed from what I call that “classic Napa style,” and I also love mountain fruit. The Heitz Trailside and Martha’s were both really nice (Martha gets an extra star from me), Ink Grade was next level.
Ink Grade is hugely massive, complex, powerful, and fresh, all at the same time. This wine easily falls in my top 3 favorite discoveries in 2022.
Details: 100% Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Harvest Date September 6, 2017. 100% French Oak. Bottled on March 8, 2021. ABV 14%.
This wine deserves a fabulous pairing. Our loss that the Jimmy Hendrix/Miles Davis collaboration never happened, but if it had I would be listening to them with this bottle.
