96pts Vinous

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is another impressive wine from O'Shaughnessy Estate Winery. Bright acids and beams of tannin run through a core of dark red/purplish Howell Mountain fruit. Potent yet refined, the 2021 is a fine effort. Blueberry jam, plum, lavender, chocolate and graphite all build into the huge, vibrant finish. Drink 2026-2036

95pts James Suckling

So rich, broad and concentrated, with a very firm texture from the stalwart tannins of Howell Mountain's terroir. Deep in black cherries, dried blueberries and dark chocolate, emphasizing the powerful fruitiness but spicing it with peppery, toasty oak accents. It's a full-bodied, age-worthy wine. Best from 2029.

95pts Decanter

Such an artfully crafted wine that is expressive of its Napa Valley character in its ripe and succulent red, black, and blue-toned youthful fruits and brawny power, backed by a kind of dizzying freshness brought on by a spine of racy, tangy, blood orange acidity and lifted violet notes. Iron, volcanic minerals, tilled earth, and fragrant herbs further accentuate Howell Mountain muscle. Soaring robust tannins are compact and superfine. Blackberry fruit, crème de cassis, and black currants all make appearances nuanced by conifer, tobacco leaf, and dark cacao. A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Carmenere, and 2% St. Macaire is harvested from O'Shaughnessy's 48.5ha hillside estate on Howell Mountain. The winemaker is Sean Capiaux. The wine was aged 24 months in French oak and another year in bottle prior to release. Drinking window 2024-2040

Winemaker Notes

This is a classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with an opaque purple color and perfumed aromas of blackberry compote, orange blossom, cassis, creme brulee, and cocoa. On the palate the wine is plush and concentrated with well-integrated tannins and a vibrant finish. Lush enough to be consumed now and structured enough to hold for decades thanks to the mountain heritage of this beautiful wine.