2010 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Selection
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Tasting notes
Unnecessarily heavy bottle. Includes some Cabernet Franc. 700 feet in poor soil of reddish-brown clay over white volcanic tufa (volcanic ash). Cold soak, fermented in steel, malo in barrel, new French oak, 19 months in barrel. Dark crimson. Smells wonderfully fresh with cassis and herbal notes plus a slight note of mint, and an attractive earthiness. Avoids any excess sweetness on the nose though the oak certainly imparts sweet spice and vanilla/chocolate character on the palate. Tannins are remarkably rounded and gentle yet still with something to get your teeth into and this seems just ready for drinking now, but with no rush. Sweet and broad on the finish. (JH)
Critic scores
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(blended with 10% merlot, 7% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; harvested on November 4!): Good red-ruby. Rich, briary aromas of red berries, coffee, minerals and tobacco leaf. Dry, intense and light on its feet, offering a very smooth texture and a restrained sweetness to its berry, coffee and herb flavors. In an Old World style but cleanly made. Finishes broad and dry, with plenty of early sex appeal.
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon shows considerable richness, breadth and power. Dark red berries, grilled herbs, licorice and new leather flesh out in this generous, large-scaled wine. Sweet floral, and mentholated notes are layered into the delineated, tense finish. This is a decidedly soft, gentle wine for Howell Mountain, perhaps because of the addition of 10% Merlot in the blend, which also includes smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.