Ladera Vineyards
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA
It has been awhile since my last 02 Ladera Howell Mountain and this is my last bottle.
This bottle is even better than my last six years ago. The fruits shine brighter. The structure & slight alcohol heat are even bigger than memory.
The one thing I adore about good Howell Mountain producers is the mix of purple fruits and the amazing beautiful blue fruits that follow.
The nose reveals, bright, ripe, slightly candied & hot; blackberries, black cherries, black plum,black raspberries, mixed purple fruits, blueberries, hints of dry cranberries and poached strawberries. Anise to black licorice, mid red cola, dry crushed rocks, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, alluvial soils, saddle-wood, soft leather, hints of fresh tobacco leaf, light; dark spice, clove, nutmeg & vanillin. Touch of cooked, green bell pepper with fresh, slightly candied, dark, red, blue flowers with violets.
The 02 vintage is peaking. The body is just full. The structure, tension, length and balance are in perfect harmony. Tannins are 55-60% resolved. She is a beauty on the palate. Somewhat candied & ripe; blackberries, black cherries, black plum, black raspberries, mixed purple fruits, blueberries, hints of dry cranberries and poached strawberries. Mixed purple & blue liqueured notes. Anise to black licorice, mid red cola, dry crushed rocks, mid dark spices, steeped fruit teas, dark expresso roast, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, alluvial soils, dark, rich, moist soil, saddle-wood, soft leather, hints of fresh tobacco leaf, light; dark spice, clove, nutmeg & vanillin. Dark chocolate, mocha, milk chocolate, salted caramel, touch of cooked, green bell, mint with fresh, slightly candied, dark, red, blue flowers with violets and lavender. The acidity is perfect...in the range of cool rain shower. The long finish is; ripe, well balanced, delicious and persists nicely for several minutes.
This bottle has another 5-8 years of good drinking ahead of it.
Photos of; Ladera’s entrance and patio, entrance, barrel room and hillside Estate vineyard.
It has been awhile since my last 02 Ladera Howell Mountain and this is my last bottle.
This bottle is even better than my last six years ago. The fruits shine brighter. The structure & slight alcohol heat are even bigger than memory.
The one thing I adore about good Howell Mountain producers is the mix of purple fruits and the amazing beautiful blue fruits that follow.
The nose reveals, bright, ripe, slightly candied & hot; blackberries, black cherries, black plum,black raspberries, mixed purple fruits, blueberries, hints of dry cranberries and poached strawberries. Anise to black licorice, mid red cola, dry crushed rocks, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, alluvial soils, saddle-wood, soft leather, hints of fresh tobacco leaf, light; dark spice, clove, nutmeg & vanillin. Touch of cooked, green bell pepper with fresh, slightly candied, dark, red, blue flowers with violets.
The 02 vintage is peaking. The body is just full. The structure, tension, length and balance are in perfect harmony. Tannins are 55-60% resolved. She is a beauty on the palate. Somewhat candied & ripe; blackberries, black cherries, black plum, black raspberries, mixed purple fruits, blueberries, hints of dry cranberries and poached strawberries. Mixed purple & blue liqueured notes. Anise to black licorice, mid red cola, dry crushed rocks, mid dark spices, steeped fruit teas, dark expresso roast, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, alluvial soils, dark, rich, moist soil, saddle-wood, soft leather, hints of fresh tobacco leaf, light; dark spice, clove, nutmeg & vanillin. Dark chocolate, mocha, milk chocolate, salted caramel, touch of cooked, green bell, mint with fresh, slightly candied, dark, red, blue flowers with violets and lavender. The acidity is perfect...in the range of cool rain shower. The long finish is; ripe, well balanced, delicious and persists nicely for several minutes.
This bottle has another 5-8 years of good drinking ahead of it.
Photos of; Ladera’s entrance and patio, entrance, barrel room and hillside Estate vineyard.
On the nose; bright, ripe, perfume floral, stewed fruits of; boysenberries, plums, blackberries, black raspberries, dark chard cherries, mocha, caramel, hints of vanilla, anise, light spice, lavender, lilacs and violets. The palate is; rich, ripe and sexy. The tannins nearly completely resolved. It’s deliciously gorgeous. The fruits are; ripe, rich, bright and slightly dark on the palate. It’s in a lavish place. Loads of blue fruits, blackberries, dark cherries, plum, black raspberries & raspberry jam with just the right amount of floral tones. Dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, clove, nutmeg, anise, a touch herbaceous, eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, rich, black earth, dusty slightly tarry tannins, stones, used leather, touch of graphite, tobacco with ash, lavender, lilacs, lavender, acidity that runs like a waterfall over the palate, a long, beautiful, rich, ripe, well balanced with very good length and structure after 13 years in bottle. The 02 still has another 5-7 years of good drinking ahead. Owned by the Plumpjack Group/Cade since late 2016; which sits just the other side of the hill from Ladera. We’ll see how and if the style evolves. Photos of; their beautiful Estate property, grand private tasting and vineyard. One additional photo showing one of the reasons Howell Mountain is so great. It sits above the fog line allowing for more sun and easier ripping of fruit.
On the nose; bright, ripe, perfume floral, stewed fruits of; boysenberries, plums, blackberries, black raspberries, dark chard cherries, mocha, caramel, hints of vanilla, anise, light spice, lavender, lilacs and violets. The palate is; rich, ripe and sexy. The tannins nearly completely resolved. It’s deliciously gorgeous. The fruits are; ripe, rich, bright and slightly dark on the palate. It’s in a lavish place. Loads of blue fruits, blackberries, dark cherries, plum, black raspberries & raspberry jam with just the right amount of floral tones. Dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, clove, nutmeg, anise, a touch herbaceous, eucalyptus, dry crushed rocks, rich, black earth, dusty slightly tarry tannins, stones, used leather, touch of graphite, tobacco with ash, lavender, lilacs, lavender, acidity that runs like a waterfall over the palate, a long, beautiful, rich, ripe, well balanced with very good length and structure after 13 years in bottle. The 02 still has another 5-7 years of good drinking ahead. Owned by the Plumpjack Group/Cade since late 2016; which sits just the other side of the hill from Ladera. We’ll see how and if the style evolves. Photos of; their beautiful Estate property, grand private tasting and vineyard. One additional photo showing one of the reasons Howell Mountain is so great. It sits above the fog line allowing for more sun and easier ripping of fruit.
Dec 23rd, 2017
