2019 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
available
The 2019 Howell Mountain comes sauntering out of the glass like a thoroughbred and will absolutely thrill high elevation purists. This exceptional vintage sports loads of dark berries, spring flowers, cigar wrapper, and cinnamon that unfurl in the glass and are layered with graphite, pine bark, and dense cassis flavors. This full-bodied mountain wine is tightly wound around an abundance of lively powdery tannins, balanced acidity, and concentrated flavors. - Christopher Tynan, Director of Winemaking
Wine Specs
Vintage
2019
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Howell Mountain
Aging
The wine was aged in French oak barrels, 60% of which were new, for twenty-one months.
Bottling Date
July 2021
Alcohol %
14.6
Wine Profile
Vineyard Notes
Exceptional high-elevation vineyards in the Howell Mountain appellation produce intensely concentrated grapes for this wine. Soils are volcanic in origin and consist of two main types: the first is decomposed volcanic ash called tufa, and the second is red volcanic rock and clay that is high in iron. Both are nutrient poor, which stresses the vines, producing intense and structured wines from small clusters and berries. The altitude, climate, and soils combine to create a classic mountain Cabernet Sauvignon with incredible concentration, texture, and structure.
Production Notes
Hand harvested in the cool early morning hours, the fruit was immediately subjected to rigorous selection by our three-tiered sorting process, including our cutting-edge optical sorter, with a goal of eliminating less-than-perfect berries. The selected fruit was gently delivered to tank via gravity by our crane system, retaining perfect, whole berries. Cold soaks lasted approximately five days, and fermentations were managed by a combination of délestage and pump overs. Extended maceration, ranging from three to four weeks, fine-tuned tannin profiles, allowing us to build structure and wine complexity.
Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Howell Mountain comes sauntering out of the glass like a thoroughbred and will absolutely thrill high elevation purists. This exceptional vintage sports loads of dark berries, spring flowers, cigar wrapper, and cinnamon that unfurl in the glass and are layered with graphite, pine bark, and dense cassis flavors. This full-bodied mountain wine is tightly wound around an abundance of lively powdery tannins, balanced acidity, and concentrated flavors. - Christopher Tynan, Director of Winemaking