2021 La Jota Howell Mountain Cabernet
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A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 4% Merlot and 2.5% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain delivers scents of cedar, pine, black cherries, blueberries and cassis. According to winemaker Chris Carpenter, the blend was necessary to ameliorate the tannins for the restaurant trade, a major market for the wine. It's medium to full-bodied, fresh, smooth and silky on the mid-palate, then firmer and more structured, with dusty tannins on the lingering finish. While it should age well for 20 years or more, I suspect much of it will be consumed on the young side, with a thick, well-marbled steak.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
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Another incredibly concentrated, focused, insanely impressive wine in the lineup is the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, which offers a powerful nose of darker currants, scorched earth, graphite, and savory herb aromas and flavors. This full-bodied, dense, concentrated, powerful, inward beauty needs 4-6 years in the cellar but will age forever.
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Jouillien Vineyard is a very old-school, cool-climate Cabernet from the Carmel Valley. Dusty library book, crunchy red berries, graphite, sage and cocoa powder develop in the glass. The product of a balanced growing season, this calibrated, structured red makes a compelling case for Cabernet in Carmel Valley. Not to mention, it’s an excellent value in the realm of California Cabernet at $49.