La Jota Vineyard Co.

Howell Mountain Merlot

9.2102 ratings
9.333 pro ratings
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA
Merlot
Beef, Venison, Salami & Prosciutto, Chili & Hot Spicy, Potato, Exotic Spices, Lamb, White Rice, Baking Spices, Herbs, Pasta, Chicken, Mushrooms, Pungent Cheese, Turkey, Tomato-Based, Soft Cheese, Pork, Beans & Peas, Hard Cheese, Duck, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.1

A much more serious take on Merlot than most do in Napa. Graphite, blackberry, cacao.

A much more serious take on Merlot than most do in Napa. Graphite, blackberry, cacao.

Jun 1st, 2024
Sipping Fine Wine

Blend of mostly Merlot with a little Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, sweet spice and espresso notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum and black cherry with toasty oak, cacao and espresso. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and sweet pepper spice. Still has room to age, but nice now!

Blend of mostly Merlot with a little Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, sweet spice and espresso notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum and black cherry with toasty oak, cacao and espresso. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and sweet pepper spice. Still has room to age, but nice now!

Mar 18th, 2024
Sipping Fine Wine

Blend of mostly Merlot with a little Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, sweet spice and espresso notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum and black cherry with toasty oak, cacao and espresso. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and sweet pepper spice. Still has room to age, but nice now!

Blend of mostly Merlot with a little Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, sweet spice and espresso notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum and black cherry with toasty oak, cacao and espresso. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and sweet pepper spice. Still has room to age, but nice now!

Feb 9th, 2023
Sipping Fine Wine

Blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, spice and floral notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plums and black cherry with toasty oak, cacao and espresso. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and spice. Still has room to age, but nice now!

Blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, spice and floral notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plums and black cherry with toasty oak, cacao and espresso. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and spice. Still has room to age, but nice now!

Jan 28th, 2023
David Kline

Chalky grape and balsa, blackberry, and plum nose with soft smoke and jasmine with a sweet petrol gloss. Soft mouthfeel turns bing cherry and underripe blueberries bordering green. Chewy. Big fruit tannins. A spicy pepper that always turns piquant-fruit. Young in every way, would love to see this chrysalis emerge.


#lajotavineyardco #laJotahowellmountainestate #lajota #howellmountain #merlot #napa #napavalley

Chalky grape and balsa, blackberry, and plum nose with soft smoke and jasmine with a sweet petrol gloss. Soft mouthfeel turns bing cherry and underripe blueberries bordering green. Chewy. Big fruit tannins. A spicy pepper that always turns piquant-fruit. Young in every way, would love to see this chrysalis emerge.


#lajotavineyardco #laJotahowellmountainestate #lajota #howellmountain #merlot #napa #napavalley

Jan 27th, 2023
Sipping Fine Wine

Blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, sweet spice and espresso notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry and black cherry with toasty oak, cacao and espresso. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and sweet spice. Still has room to age, but nice now!

Blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, sweet spice and espresso notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry and black cherry with toasty oak, cacao and espresso. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with fruit, oak and sweet spice. Still has room to age, but nice now!

Jan 13th, 2023
Michael Chelus

Black cherry, vanilla, raspberry preserves, plum, currant and oak. Full-bodied and moderate tannins.

Black cherry, vanilla, raspberry preserves, plum, currant and oak. Full-bodied and moderate tannins.

Jan 9th, 2022
Sipping Fine Wine

Blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot & 5% Tannat, aged 20 mos French oak. LaJota has deep roots in Napa, in 1888, wine pioneer W.S. Keyes planted the first vines on Howell Mountain, 10 years later LaJota Vineyard established, named for location on Mexican parcel Rancho La Jota. Deep Ruby, rich berry fruit aromas & herb spice. On the palate blackberry & cherry flavors with sweet spice, licorice & cacao notes, rich & tangy. Soft full tannins, long finish ending with oak & earthy herbs. Just starting to drink now, will cellar for a decade.

Blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot & 5% Tannat, aged 20 mos French oak. LaJota has deep roots in Napa, in 1888, wine pioneer W.S. Keyes planted the first vines on Howell Mountain, 10 years later LaJota Vineyard established, named for location on Mexican parcel Rancho La Jota. Deep Ruby, rich berry fruit aromas & herb spice. On the palate blackberry & cherry flavors with sweet spice, licorice & cacao notes, rich & tangy. Soft full tannins, long finish ending with oak & earthy herbs. Just starting to drink now, will cellar for a decade.

Jul 18th, 2021
Mike Lee

Beverage Manager/Sommelier Catch Miami

8.8

Dark fruit compote, oak, alcohol. Big wine that needs time to mature.

Dark fruit compote, oak, alcohol. Big wine that needs time to mature.

Nov 5th, 2018
Michael Chelus

Black cherry, raspberry, blackberry, vanilla, cola, mossy earth and oak. Excellent structure and moderate tannins.

Black cherry, raspberry, blackberry, vanilla, cola, mossy earth and oak. Excellent structure and moderate tannins.

Oct 17th, 2018