Arkenstone Estate Red, Howell Mountain, USA 2019

VINTAGE : 2019

COUNTRY : USA

REGION/APPELLATION : California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

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

The vineyard at the heart of the mountain

Overlooking St. Helena, high upon the western ridge of Howell Mountain, the Arkenstone Estate rises from 1400 ft. to over 1650 ft. of elevation. With amazing, sweeping views looking down over the Napa Valley to the South, Spring Mountain to the West, the wild, forested Bell Canyon to the North, and Mount St. Helena beyond, Arkenstone is a panoramic.

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.

"The 2019 Estate Red is another magical wine from winemaker Sam Kaplan. Based on 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot and Malbec, all from the estate on Howell Mountain, it offers up a dense purple hue to go with stunningly pure cassis and darker currant fruits, full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and a complex, nuanced style in its leafy herbs, flowers, scorched earth, and classy oak aromas and flavors. It’s brilliant any way you look at it." Jeb Dunnuck 99 points