Heitz Cellar Ink Grade Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
(Napa Valley, California) - [JS 96] [DM 95] [WA 94+] [WE 93] [WS 93]

About the Vineyard:
The Ink Grade Estate Vineyard claims a view unbeknownst to most in the Napa Valley, lying in the northeast corner of the Howell Mountain AVA. Terraced throughout due to the extreme slopes, this mountainside vineyard clings to volcanic “tufa” soils. Ink Grade Estate possesses a raw tension that renders fruit of immense intensity and depth. If ever there was a site that imparted a feeling of reverence, Ink Grade is such a place.

A Grand Cru of Howell Mountain:
This wine is crafted from Ink Grade's highest elevation parcels. Vines are hand-selected, utilizing gentle processing techniques throughout fermentation, employing less new oak and larger aging vessels to maintain and express the purity and pedigree of this vineyard. The resulting wine is profound and possesses tension while remaining fresh and bright. A distinctive artifact of place, Ink Grade Cabernet Sauvignon is truly a grand cru of Howell Mountain.

2019 Vintage Insights:
“The 2019 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon carries the flinty graphite signature of this special terroir, highlighting the vibrant red fruit character, while showcasing notes of cedar and spices. The luscious texture of this vintage was achieved by utilizing large aging vessels during the elevage process, resulting in a beautifully balanced Cabernet Sauvignon with great aging potential.” — Master Sommelier and Managing Partner Carlton McCoy Jr., May 2022

AVA: Howell Mountain
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Aging: 9 months in oak tank, followed by 24 months in barrel (90%) and foudre (10%)
Harvest Dates: 9/16/19 – 9/25/19
Alcohol: 13%
Vineyard Blocks: Third Circle
Production: 1,800 cases

Ratings & Reviews

96 Points - James Suckling:
"Intense aromas of currants, red berries, pine cones, conifer and ash. Medium to full body with mountain tannins that are fresh and vivid. So much red currant fruit at the end. Forest fruits, too. Gentle and caressing. Drink or hold." (Nov 2023)

95 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Aged 24 months in roughly 50% new French oak, this wine was tasted with Lawrence Wine Estates CEO Carlton McCoy, MS, in St. Helena. McCoy shared that he suggested to winemaker Matt Taylor to “treat it like Barolo”, leading them to age the wine in 500-litre puncheons, 2,000-litre casks, and a small percentage of barrique. The result is a lifted, refined expression with good density, yet unexpected elegance for Howell Mountain. A wonderfully rich and enticing wine, it reveals welcoming pine resin notes, a character imparted by extended ageing. If you think you know Howell Mountain, this wine may surprise you—it is anything but bold, powerful, and dense. Instead, it leans red-fruited, with layers of allspice and savoury minerality. While the mountain tannins are firm and present, they are mineral-rich rather than mocha-driven, adding structure without heaviness. The medium-bodied palate balances generous acidity and vibrant fruit, finishing with savoury notes of liquorice and a touch of wild herb aromatics." - Jonathan Cristaldi (Feb 2025)

94+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"Sappy pine and herbal notes accent blueberries and cherries on the nose of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, the best vintage of this wine I've tasted. It's medium to full-bodied, with a rich, velvety mouthfeel that's deftly balanced by bright acids on the long, tart finish. Streamlined and tannic, this will require patience, but it should blossom into silky radiance given a decade or so of cellaring." - Joe Czerwinski (Jul 2024)

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Fresh aromas and flavors of just picked cherries and blackberries join bay laurel, dusty earth, cedar and graphite for structured and upright Cabernet. Tannins spread across the palate with taut mountain character that remains approachable in its seriousness. An example of the power, brooding character and distinctiveness of its Howell Mountain origins." - Elain Chukan Brown (Apr 2026)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A fresh, sleek and slightly high-pitched style, with damson plum, bitter cherry and red currant coulis notes framed by singed savory and dried rose petal hints. This moves along with focus and pinpoint acidity before a long twang of iron asserts itself on the finish. Atypical for Howell Mountain but distinctive. Best from 2025 through 2036." - James Molesworth (Jul 2024)