2011 CADE Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
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Tasting notes
Deep red-ruby. Blackcurrant, chocolate, violet and mint on the nose and palate; smells riper than the basic Howell Mountain blend. Sweet and moderately deep, displaying attractive floral lift. Spreads out nicely to coat the mouth on the finely tannic finish. Half of this cuvee was bottled under screwcap. Like a number of her colleagues, winemaker Danielle Cyrot back-blended about 5% of 2012 in her '11s.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Howell Mountain has a little more depth than the 2011 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. The bright savory and floral notes typical of the year meld into dark red cherries, raspberry jam, cloves, mint and pine. The balance of high-toned aromatics and plush fruit works beautifully here, as the elements play off each other nicely. This is a fairly approachable style for Howell Mountain, with relatively subdued tannins and terrific overall balance. Once again, Howell Mountain shows how favored it was in this tricky, challenging vintage.
The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate performed surprisingly well, and admirably confirms that Howell Mountain fared better than many other Napa appellations in this troubling year. It offers attractive blueberry, boysenberry and wet rock characteristics, medium body, and good purity and texture. It will be on a faster evolutionary track than the 2010, so consume it over the next 7-10 years. Tel. (707) 965-2746
(100% cabernet sauvignon, 100% new oak): Good bright medium ruby. Aromas of blueberry, espresso, licorice and violet are livelier than those of the regular Howell Mountain wine. Sweeter and suppler in the mouth, too, with good dark berry intensity. Here there's more mid-palate material to support the firm tannins, which reach the front teeth. Finishes with juicy, rising persistence.