2016 Cimarossa Cabernet Sauvignon

Deeply colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard comes from a site on Howell Mountain sitting at around 2,100 feet above sea-level on a west facing slope. It has a textbook Howell mountain profile with its blueberries, black cherries, conifer, savory herbs, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. This rich, powerful, beautifully textured, layered mountain wine has silky tannins, perfect balanced, and a great finish.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard captures all the magic of this site on Howell Mountain. Graphite, smoke, leather, incense, grilled herbs and menthol come alive in a powerful, vertical wine loaded with potential and class. A dollop of new oak influence from Darnajou barrels adds opulence and a sheen of raciness this wine may not need. Even so, the Cimarossa is striking. There is no doubt about that. (AG)

Cimarossa means "red hill top" in Italian, which aptly defines this very special hillside vineyard, planted on a volcanic cinder cone. The elevation is 2,100 feet, and the soils are predominately red volcanic rock and dust. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa Vineyard gives up cassis, blackberry pie, blueberry tart and earth with notions of spices, camphor, meat and wood smoke. Full-bodied, firm and grainy, the palate is packed with fruit and spices, finishing layered, very long and savory. 211 cases produced.