It seems about time that we re-focus on the number of excellent reds (and some nice Sauvignon Blancs) coming out of Howell Mountain now that other places in the valley have gotten their turn at publicity. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (about two-thirds) and Merlot has lovely cassis and blackberry juice aromas and tastes, and, though not a heavy wine, it is a brooding one, rich in texture. It has great oak integration with lip-smacking tannins. Perhaps it is the tart tannins that move the owners of the winery to compare its “feisty” elements to those of the actress Rita Moreno.
Moone-Tsai, Howell Mountain – Napa Valley (California) 2019
By Roger Morris