99pts Jeb Dunnuck

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. Hide bottles for 4-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following three decades.

97pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2019 Howell Mountain Estate Red Blend is composed of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and 2% Malbec. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts with bold notions of crème de cassis, baked black plums and tilled soil, plus hints of bay leaves, charcoal and unsmoked cigars. Full-bodied, rich and layered in the mouth, it has lots of earthy and savory nuances with a firm and grainy texture, finishing on a lingering black truffle note.

97pts Wine Enthusiast

This mountain grown blend of Bordeaux varieties, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, offers power with polish. Massive but fine-grained tannins saturate a rich palate of black currants, blueberries and dark chocolate, giving the structure for aging. While tempting now for its suave texture and rich flavors, the wine will gain even more complexity and smoothness from 2028-2040. Cellar Selection.

Winemaker Notes

The Arkenstone Estate Blend consists entirely of fruit from their Howell Mountain Estate ranging from 1400' to 1650' on the western shoulder of the mountain. Each year the blend is comprise of the top performing block from the 16 of their 22 blocks dedicated to this blend. By having complete control over the vineyard they are able to being to shape the wines while on the vine.

Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 2% Malbec