Meadowcroft Wines, Howell Mountain – Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

 Three “Bs” come immediately to mind when tasting this:  Big, brooding, and beautiful.  Still tightly coiled, the oak and tannin are as prominent as the fruit at this stage in the wine’s development, but the origin from Howell Mountain made perfect sense after I pulled the bottle from its blind tasting bag.  Knowing the Napa sub-AVA reinforces my confidence that the fruit will easily outrun the wood and tannin, making this a wine that you could enjoy now with robust food if curiosity overwhelms you, but one that will hit its stride in about five years and hold that stride for — three decades.  No kidding.  It wouldn’t be surprising if you could only spring for one bottle of this, and if so, have someone trustworthy and youthful hide it in the most remote location in your cellar.