Howell Mountain

Ink Grade Vineyard

Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley

Our Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from an organically certified vineyard. Perched at 1800 feet it is clearly a mountain vineyard. Along with the rugged terrain and panoramic views of the valley floor, the soil itself attests to the fiery volcanic origin of Howell Mountain.

This powerful Cabernet showcases the tremendous complexity of Howell Mountain. A very focused, precise wine both on nose and palate. Nose is just as much mineral as it is fruit: currants, cassis but not without pencil lead. It is assertive in the mouth, and all about structure. Flavors are of ripe berries, more currants, cedar, a cigar box. Tannins are muscular and frame the wine around a lively acidity; they are fine and chewy but ever-present. The structure overall is exciting and full of verve.

Bismark Mountain Ranch

Syrah

Sonoma Valley

Balanced precariously at 2400 feet on a literal mountain-top; this vineyard is the highest in the Mayacamas Mountain range. The vines at Bismark Mountain Ranch exist almost in spite of their struggle to survive the mountain terrain. The soil is unique and very rocky - formed from the lone shale outcropping in the county at the very peak of Mount Veeder. The vines seem to know the struggle that awaits each year, and set an according amount of grapes - a very small amount. What results is intense, ink-black syrah juice to those patient and faithful enough to receive it.

Our Syrah’s mountain heritage is immediately apparent by looking at the wine’s rich, ink-dark color. Aromas of black pepper and game dance around blackberry fruit. The mouth is full of dark fruit and glycerin, with a finish of cacao bean and a persisitent gaminess. The wine is intense, and 20% whole cluster fermentation gives it an untamed edge.

Stagecoach Vineyard

Viognier

Napa Valley

Exploding with the unmistakable florality of classic Viognier, this wine, due to its mountain-top origin, boasts an intense concentration and rich mouthfeel not found in many white wines. In addition to a lively acidity, a measured dose of tannin frames flavors of honeysuckle, ripe pear, citrus peel and dried apricot.

A large hillside vineyard east of Soda Canyon, Stagecoach Vineyard produces large amounts of red varietals; just a few acres of white grapes exist as counterpoint. The small amount of viognier we receive is planted in the Pritchard Hill area. The viognier vines are on a steep, rocky, red-soiled hillside at 1700 feet, overlooking much of the rest of the vineyard. The block has very thin soil which helps these grapes to achieve beautiful aromatics.