2014 Las Posadas

The 2014 Las Posadas shows the strides this Howell Mountain site continues to make. Super-ripe black cherry, plum, bittersweet chocolate, lavender, juniper berry, mint and licorice abound. The pungent aromas and piercing tannins scream of Howell Mountain. Vivid and intense, the 2014 has so much to offer. Even better, the 2014 is surprisingly accessible for a young Howell Mountain Cabernet-based wine. It should drink with minimal cellaring.

From the estate's Howell Mountain site, the 2014 Las Posadas offers a sensational bouquet of sweet crème de cassis (and lots of blue fruit characteristics, which is classic Howell Mountain), spring flowers, graphite, and crushed rocks, with just a hint of toasty oak in the background. Ethereally textured, powerful yet fresh, concentrated yet graceful, it's a killer wine that does everything right. It lacks the opulence and decadence of the other single vineyards, yet shines for its purity, focus, and precision. Along with the Cappella, it's the more approachable of the single vineyard releases. David Abreu and superstar winemaker Brad Grimes continue to fashion some of the most powerful, concentrated, yet seamless Bordeaux blends in the Valley. While I couldn’t visit during my trip through the region due to the fire (I tried, but a police barricade got in my way), I was able to taste the 2014s from bottle at my office in Colorado. The estate pulls from four separate vineyards and releases five cuvees; the Rothwell Hyde, Las Posadas, Cappella, Thorevilos, and Madrona Ranch. The Rothwell Hyde can be thought of as the entry-level wine based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, with small amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec, all sourced from the four estate vineyards. Readers looking to experience the quality and style of the estate while note breaking the bank should start here. Purchased in 2000, the 15-acre Las Posadas Vineyard on Howell Mountain sits at an elevation around 2,000 feet above sea level, which puts it above the fog line. This wine is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, but like all the wines here, the blend can vary dramatically between vintages. The Cappella Vineyard covers a tiny 6 acres in St. Helena, just west of the town. Of all the cuvees, the Cappella normally incorporates the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. The Thorevilos Vineyard covers 22 acres planted in the white, volcanic ash soils located outside of St. Helena, just above the famous Meadowood Estate. The vines average roughly 25 years in age and this cuvee can include upwards of 30% or more of Cabernet Franc. Lastly, the Madrona Ranch covers 23 acres at the base of Spring Mountain and can be thought of as the home base from this estate. The vineyard is planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc (there are small amounts of Petit Verdot and Merlot), and this wine exemplifies the estate’s style with its mix of power, richness, and elegance. It’s worth noting the blends are never fix for each of the cuvees and change each vintage depending on how everything comes together in each vintage. These are magically wines by Brad Grimes.

The 2014 Las Posadas is quite polished and refined for a young Howell Mountain wine. Raspberry jam, rose petal and mint give the 2014 its very distinctive, red-toned personality. This is an especially bright, energetic, focused version of Las Posadas. As is the case with so many wines in this vintage, the Posadas is a bit lithe in feel, but it is full of character as well as potential.