1996 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Bancroft Ranch

The 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Bancroft Ranch may possess an even more saturated, thicker, black/purple color than the 1995. Some tannin has emerged since I tasted it last year, when it was far more velvety. This is a powerhouse, extremely full-bodied, palate-staining wine. Its enormous extract, richness, and elevated tannin seem to suggest this wine is about ready to settle down for a long period of dormancy. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025. Readers should look out for the phenomenal 1997. The single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons are part of what Beringer calls their "Vineyard Collection." Produced in 200 case lots, readers expecting to find them sitting on a shelf in their local retail shops will be disappointed, as they are destined to be sold via Beringer's mailing list, or directly from the winery. Because of the limited quantities available, my notes on these wines are intentionally abbreviated. Release date, 4/01. Tel. (707) 963-7115; Fax (707) 963-1735