2021 CADE Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain (screw cap)

(99 Points) “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a tiny selection of the best barrels, and it’s another just about perfect 2021, offering a saturated purple hue as well as an awesome bouquet of black and blue fruits, spicy oak, graphite, and iron, with a kiss of Graves-like scorched earth. With full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, awesome mid-palate, and building tannins, this classic, age-worthy Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon deserves a solid 5-7 years of bottle age and will see its 30th birthday in fine form.” – Jeb Dunnuck

The 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of boysenberry, black cherry, blueberry, clove, graham cracker, cola, and crushed rose petals. In the palate are flavors of crushed blackberries, raspberry coolie, milk chocolate covered black cherries, caramel, coco powder, anise, and vanilla extract. The tannin structure in this wine is both powerful and refined. There is a length and persistence to this wine that is what makes this vintage of CADE Reserve very alluring and age worthy. The wine finishes with flavors of candied blue and black fruit, fresh plums, and espresso. This wine is a blend of the best blocks, best barrels, and overall, a wine that reflects the best of Howell Mountain.

CADE Estate is situated on a 54-acre property in the heart of Howell Mountain, sitting at elevations ranging from 1,500-1,850 feet, with 21 planted acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. The 2021 vintage also features fruit from our adjacent 82-acre property, 13th Vineyard. The was harvested from September 23-October 8, 2021.

Fermentation: The fruit was handpicked, destemmed/whole berry, hand sorted, and pumped into small stainless steel fermentation tanks. The must was kept at 50ºF for a two-day cold soak. Fermentation was hot and fast with temperatures reaching a maximum of 92°F and the juice macerating on the skins/seeds for 5-7 days.

Élevage: The wine was aged for 20 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Only free run wine was used in the blend, no press fractions were selected. Racking occurred immediately after the completion of malolactic fermentation, then on a quarterly basis until bottling.

Cooperage : Darnajou, Sylvain, Mercier, Quintessence, Atelier, Mercurey, and Tonnellerie O.

Varietals : 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot

 Alcohol: 15.9%

Production: 57 barrels

Release Date: September 2024