Mendoza is one of the most important wine regions in Argentina and accounts for almost two-thirds of the entire wine production in the country. Mendoza is located in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains and is shadowed by Mount Aconcagua. The vineyards are planted 1,500 feet above sea level, which are some of the highest altitudes in grape growth. Vines arrived at the beginning of the Spanish colonization from Peru. It wasn’t until the late 19th to early 20th century that Mendoza experienced a huge wine-boom turning it into the fifth largest wine growing region in the world. After the railroad was established in 1885, connecting Argentina and Buenos Aires, more vineyards were developed in Mendoza. Mendoza vineyards grew from 1,000 hectares in 1830, to 45,000 in 1910. Mendoza has a continental climate with semi-arid desert conditions. The wine region enjoys four distinct seasons with no temperature extremes. Rainfall averages about 8” per year meaning that irrigation is a necessity. Mendoza primarily consists of alluvial soil that is composed of loose sand over clay. The mountain rivers provide adequate water supply from the melting glaciers in the nearby Andes. Irrigation channels, dating back to the 16th century, help the viticulture in Mendoza.
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Winery Notes:
Each year, we set aside the best barrels of our Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley to produce Special Selection. Distinguished by extremely fine, velvety tannins and enjoyable upon release or with aging. A wine of structure with intense concentration of supple flavors and dark fruits. Special Selection is the only wine in the world honored twice as Wine Spectator magazine’s “Wine of the Year.”
This is a classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with an opaque purple color and perfumed aromas of blackberry compote, orange blossom, cassis, creme brulee, and cocoa. On the palate the wine is plush and concentrated with well-integrated tannins and a vibrant finish. Lush enough to be consumed now and structured enough to hold for decades thanks to the mountain heritage of this beautiful wine.
Review:
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is an incredible wine, and it flirts with perfection. Full-bodied and concentrated, it has flawless balance and elegance as well as just textbook Howell Mountain notes of blue fruits, cassis, violets, graphite, and background oak. I love its tannins, it has remarkable purity of fruit, and a great, great finish. It has some appeal today yet deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and should have over two decades of longevity.
-Jeb Dunnuck 98+ Points
Winemaker Sean Capiaux has crafted this Howell Mountain staple for more than two decades. In 2019, he's made a knockout! Explosive aromas of ripe, black fruit, wild mountain sage, turned earth and toasty oak. Enveloping on the palate with an intricate mix of black cherry, blackberry and blueberry fruit moving quickly into more savoury notes of crushed stones, cassis, wildflowers. Finishing long and with vibrancy and lift. A powerful core of firm fine-grained tannins are nicely integrated. Great cellar potential.
-Decanter 97 Points