Arkenstone Estate Red, Howell Mountain, USA 2017

VINTAGE : 2017

COUNTRY : USA

REGION/APPELLATION : California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

VARIETALS : Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec

The Arkenstone Estate Cabernet Blend (formerly known as Obsidian) consists entirely of fruit from our Howell Mountain Estate ranging from 1400' to 1650' on the western shoulder of the mountain. Each year the blend is comprised of the top performing blocks from 16 of our 22 blocks dedicated to the Estate Cab Blend. By having complete control over the vineyard we are able to begin to shape the wines while on the vine. Once picked, we process all of our fruit here at Arkenstone where the grapes are sorted and fed by gravity down into our fermentation hall. As the grapes come in, all lots are kept separate to ferment and age individually. Once the wines have aged about 11 months in barrel by lot we will begin to make our blend. Once blended the wine will go back into barrel for an additional 11 months and then into bottle for an additional year before release.

Deeper colored, the 2017 Arkenstone Estate Red offers a stunning bouquet of blackcurrants, dark chocolate, graphite, and lead pencil shavings. This rich, powerful, concentrated wine has ripe tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great, great finish. It's going to need 4-5 years of cellaring but will be long lived. The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Malbec and Merlot, all aged 22 months in new barrels. JD 94+