2010 Duckhorn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
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The unique climate and soils on Howell Mountain are the key to the appellation’s success in producing powerful, age-worthy wines. Duckhorn Vineyards has sourced grapes from this distinctive region for more than a quarter century and has crafted a Howell Mountain bottling since 1989. Over the years, we have increased our commitment to this appellation with the purchase of two spectacular vineyards, Candlestick Ridge (28 acres) and Stout Ranch (36 acres). To encourage further complexity, we bottle-age this wine a year longer than our other wines prior to release. As a result, our Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon offers excellent structure and deep color. This wine is suitable for long-term cellaring.
Wine Profile
Production Notes
Varietal Content: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5% Merlot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot; Cooperage: 100% French oak château-style barrels (60 Gallons); Age of Barrels: 95% New, 5% Second Vintage
Winemaker Notes
As it is year after year, this is a big, beautifully structured mountain wine that promises to richly reward patient cellaring. On the nose, it offers complex aromas of wild blueberry, bay laurel, pencil lead, menthol and cassis. Youthful mountain tannins add firmness to the palate, while underscoring flavors of ripe cherry, blackberry preserves, black currant, pink peppercorn, wildflowers and holiday spice.
Production
Due to a wet spring and mild growing season the 2010 harvest started two weeks later than we would normally expect. Later, milder seasons tend to result in wines of fine elegance and balanced natural acidity. This is exactly what we see in our white wines and the best reds from superior locations. During harvest the conditions (a strong heat wave and then significant late rains), caused us to be very diligent in the vineyards fine tuning the fruit and making timely picking decisions. In the winery we took precautions to be respectful to the characteristics of the fruit and feel that has resulted in wines of character and intrigue.
Other Notes
Released: September 2014
Wine Specs
Wine Specs
Vintage
2010
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Harvest Date
September 17 - October 23, 2010
Sugar
26.8° Brix
Acid
0.59 g/100ml titratable acidity
pH
3.84
Aging
24 Months in Barrel
Bottling Date
March 2013
Alcohol %
14.5
