2016 Obsidian Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
The finest wine I’ve tasted from the estate, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Estate checks in as 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Malbec. Aged 22 months in new barrels, its deep inky color is followed by a full-bodied, rich, concentrated beauty that has subtle background oak as well as tons of cassis fruits and notes of white flowers, crushed rocks, and classic Howell Mountain pine and bay leaf notes. Hats off to winemaker Sam Kaplan for this sensational effort. Give bottles 2-4 years and it’s capable of keeping for 2+ decades.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Howell Mountain Estate Red Blend is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot and 3% Malbec aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with incredibly fragrant red and black currants, crushed black berries and black cherries notes with hints of cigar box, bay leaves, licorice, oyster sauce, yeast extract and chargrill. The palate is full, super concentrated and built like a brick house, offering very firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and savory. This flat-out beauty should be very long lived! 700 cases produced, to be released in the fall of 2019.