Cade Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 2022 - 750ml

94pts James Suckling

Savory aromas of blackcurrants, cedar, tobacco leaves and mocha. The palate is full-bodied with firmly framed tannins and balanced acidity, giving notes of blackberry bush, bark, graphite, licorice and spices. Layered black fruit has been finely integrated with a powerful undertone.

93pts Vinous

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is gorgeous in this vintage. Bright, aromatic and vibrant, this mid-weight Howell Mountain Cabernet has a ton to offer. Rose petal, lavender, crushed rocks, graphite and red/purplish fruit are beautifully delineated. This is such a pretty wine.

Absolutely textbook Howell Mountain notes of darker currants, black cherries, chocolate, bouquet garni, and leafy, herbal, forest notes all shine in Cade's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, a medium to full-bodied, ripe, nicely concentrated 2022 that has integrated tannins and acidity, terrific overall balance, and outstanding length. As opposed to many 2022s, this has solid underlying structure and depth and is a rock-solid beauty that will evolve nicely over the coming 10-12 years or more.

Winemaker Note

The 2022 vintage was an early and warm one. A heat dome hit during Labor Day, catapulting sugars—and, therefore, harvest. While some blocks fared well through the heat, others with rocky soils and low water-holding capacity had to be picked. The benefit of being at elevation was clear in 2022. CADE's vineyards did not get as hot as those on the valley floor. They were able to maintain great color and tannin, although slightly lower than average, due to the intense heat in September 2022. But, Howell Mountain always offers more tannin than they need, so having a bit less tannin naturally allowed them to ferment on the skins slightly longer than normal, while still exhibiting that classic Howell Mountain structure and mouthfeel.

Blend: 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec, 1% Merlot