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La Jota Vineyard Co. Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, United StatesLa Jota Vineyard lies high upon a volcanic plateau, looking east over Napa Valley. It is a big, brooding mountain cabernet that is naturally constructed to age for a decade or two. Winemaker Chris Carpenter uses only native yeast in a mix of open and closed-top stainless steel fermentation tanks. In 2019 plentiful winter rains were followed by frequent fog events in the spring, and a mild summer with just a few short heat spikes, which led to a long growing season, extended hang time, and a final pick on November 1. A giant of wine, it improved throughout the tasting and hours later. Intense blackberry and an equal amount of tobacco mesh seamlessly with the dense tannin that readily accepts the oak and acid. Drink if you must, but this is one for the cellar to be left through 2030 to unfold in all its glory. Winemaking pioneer W.S. Keyes planted some of the first vines on Howell Mountain in 1888. A decade later, a stone winery was established and named after the Mexican parcel Rancho La Jota. Today, La Jota Vineyard Co. carries on the legacy with its small-production mountain cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc. The fruit is a mix of estate-grown additions from nearby W.S. Keyes Vineyard.Tasted: 21 January 2023Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:| BC | $200.00 | 750ml | select private wine shops |
| AB | $175.00 | 750ml | select private wine shops |
| SK | $200.00 | 750ml | select private retailers; monopolies |
| MB | $200.00 | 750ml | select private retailers |
Grape: Cabernet SauvignonCSPC: 163413UPC: 626990335504
