CADE 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2021 CADE Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain is a tour de force of structure, texture, and vivid aromatic complexity. From the moment the glass meets the nose, it releases a kaleidoscope of cherry, raspberry, and cranberry, layered with enticing notes of cocoa nibs, baked red delicious apple, dark chocolate, and roasted coffee. There is a remarkable purity and vibrancy to the fruit, showcasing the unique terroir of Howell Mountain, where elevation and volcanic soils converge to produce wines of profound depth and intensity. The palate offers an opulent medley of rhubarb pie, cinnamon, clove, red cherry, and boysenberry, enveloped by a fine backbone of tannin and a riveting sense of freshness that carries through to an elongated, graceful finish.

Sourced meticulously from four celebrated Howell Mountain sites — CADE Estate, 13th Vineyard, Ink Grade Vineyard, and Cold Springs Vineyard — the 2021 vintage captures the best attributes of each, uniting power, density, and elegance in a seamless whole. The growing season was warm and accelerated, producing small, intensely flavored berries, and the harvest window from September 10 to October 12 allowed for precision picking at optimal ripeness. Fermentations were executed at peak temperatures reaching 92°F, with short macerations between 5-7 days, preserving the freshness and structure while extracting exceptional color and intensity. Pressing off at mid-fermentation allowed the must to finish naturally in tank or barrel, crafting wines of profound concentration and vibrancy.

Aged for 19 months in 100% French oak barrels, 79% of which were new, the élevage is masterful, lending the wine notes of toasted spice, supple vanilla, and subtle sweet wood smoke without ever dominating the fruit. A broad selection of elite coopers — including Ermitage, Darnajou, Atelier, and Sylvain — was employed to create a layered and complex textural experience, each barrel adding nuance and dimension. Malolactic fermentation completed in barrel post-primary fermentation, and the wine was racked quarterly, ensuring maximum integration and polish.

Composed of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, and 1% Merlot, the 2021 CADE Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a brilliant expression of the Howell Mountain pedigree — simultaneously bold, structured, and finessed. This wine offers immediate appeal with its luxurious fruit and spice-laden bouquet, yet possesses the inherent structure and balance to reward patience over the next two decades. For collectors and enthusiasts seeking a quintessential Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 CADE is an essential acquisition, a wine that embodies the elegance and power of Napa Valley’s celebrated mountain terroir.

Alcohol: 15.6%

93 POINTS - "The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain comes almost all from the estate on Howell Mountain and is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot. It has classic Howell Mountain style in its ripe blue fruits, violets, iron, and bouquet garni-like aromatics, and its medium to full-bodied, with a rich, mouth-filling texture and outstanding length. It has another 15 years of prime drinking ahead of it." - Jeb Dunnuck

Socially Rated 4+ / 5 ⭐

The 2021 CADE Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has beautiful aromas of cherry, raspberry, cranberry, cocoa nibs, baked red delicious apples, dark chocolate, and roasted coffee. In the palate are flavors of rhubarb pie, cinnamon, clove, red cherry, and boysenberry. The wine has that classic Howell Mountain structure with great density and length in the palate. The 2021 vintage was warm and early but produced wines with great length, texture, bountiful fruit, and elegance.