La Jota Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
(Napa Valley, California) - [WA 97] [JS 96] [VM 95+] [JD 95] [WS 94] [WE 94] [DM 94]

Ratings & Reviews

97 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
“Deep garnet-purple colored, it explodes from the glass with bombastic black currants, black cherries and boysenberries notes plus underlying hints of violets, dark chocolate and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and fragrant.” – Lisa Perrotti-Brown (1/2021)

96 Points - James Suckling:
“Aromas of pine needles, asphalt, graphite and black fruit follow through to a full-bodied and chewy palate with so much tannin, giving this real Howell Mountain character. It goes on and one. Muscular and in need of time in the bottle to soften.“ (4/2021)

95+ Points – Vinous Media:
“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful, tightly wound wine that captures all the natural intensity of Howell Mountain. Blackberry jam, graphite, smoke, iron and crushed rocks give this dark, massively tannic Cabernet a lot of character. Even after having been opened for several hours, the 2018 remains forbidding, with serious tannins that are going to require a good bit of cellaring before the wine becomes approachable” – Antonio (1/2021)

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon shows its Howell Mountain terroir nicely yet still has a supple, textured, elegant style that gives it plenty of upfront appeal. Beautiful cassis and darker currants, chocolate, tobacco, and cedar pencil notes emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with present yet silky tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish, where it shows more and more tannins with time in the glass. It can be drunk today with plenty of pleasure, but smart money is on giving bottles 2-4 years of bottle age and following for 10-15.” (1/2021)

94 Points - Wine Spectator:
“Very sleek and tightly coiled, with a pure, racy beam of cassis and plum reduction notes coursing through, inlaid seamlessly with a bright iron spine and lively licorice snap and apple wood notes. Shows its grip at the very end, so no rush” - JM (10/2021)

94 Points & Cellar Selection – Wine Enthusiast:
"Reductive and forceful in mountain-grown power, this full-bodied wine is bursting in graphite, iron and crushed rock. The grippy tannin profile intensifies on the palate, adding weight and breadth to the experience as highlights of red fruit, dust and oak weigh in. Enjoy best 2028–2038." - Virginia Boone (3/1/2022) 

94 Points - Decanter Magazine:
“La Jota’s Howell Mountain bottling is a distinctively pure and floral. The nose is loaded with ripe blue fruit and fresh purple flowers centered around a dense core of power. As structured as it is, there is a fantastic refinement to the tannin structure and softness to the acidity. A great example of a modern mountain-sourced Napa Cabernet-based blend.” – Matthew Luczy (10/2020)