O'Shaughnessy Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

96 points - limited                          A blockbuster small-production Napa Cabernet from Howell Mountain - very limited. 96 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The O'Shaughnessy 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. (Dec 2023)"  95 points Jonathan Cristaldi (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. (6/26/24)" Nestled on a 120-acre hillside, the O'Shaughnessy estate vineyard has matured over 20 years. With 29 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 6 acres of historic blending varietals, the vines thrive in three distinct vineyards: the Amphitheater, Rancho Del Oso, and Osprey's Nest. The 2019 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning example, boasting flawless balance, elegance, and textbook Howell Mountain characteristics of blue fruit, cassis, violets, and graphite, with a remarkable purity of fruit and a great finish.

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