Ruby-red. Superripe aromas of currant, blueberry, mocha, brown spices and violet. Lush, dense and sweet, with lovely floral lift to the flavors of dark raspberry, dark chocolate and mint. An edge of acidity and very fine tannins gives shape to the wine's sweetness. A very elegant cabernet that's balanced for early drinking but should age well for at least a decade.

A blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec, the 2015 Red Wine has an almost Monte Bello style in its blue fruits, cedary spice, crushed rocks, and violets aromas and flavors. Old school, concentrated, and structured, yet with balancing fruit and texture, it's a classic, age-worthy Bordeaux blend that's going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for a decade or more

Medium purple color. Deep, gorgeous nose of cassis and black currants, laced with a complex mix of earthy, smoky savory notes (charcoal, mesquite, grilled meat, black olive, pepper) with notes, also some vanilla, cedar. Structured but velvety on the palate, full but fresh, with moderating acidity. Rich blackberry and tart black currant fruit, topped with generous notes of charcoal, graphite, bay leaf, pepper, earth — the savory and spicy elements in here are lovely. I think age has really done wonders for this wine already, but it has many years of evolution ahead. 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, aged 26 months in 62% new French oak.

I usually like wines that are a bit more restrained, but I have to say, I’m smitten by this wine’s unleashed wild exuberance. Of course, mountain merlot is vastly different than “regular” merlot; it’s got more power, more potency, and more all-around gravitas. But big wines usually forfeit layers of flavor to achieve their magnitude. Not this one. The fleshy dark berry and sage-like flavors are laced with cassis, spices, and vanilla. An old stone winery atop Howell Mountain, La Jota was built in the 1800s by Italian stone masons and Chinese laborers who had worked on the Transcontinental Railroad.

Pure and refined, this offers savory richness to the dried red fruit and spice flavors. Tannins are firm but well-honed, and the finish is filled with mineral and cedar box notes, with a juicy rush of chocolate.

A mountain-grown wine blended with 10% Petit Verdot, this impresses in its ability to offer power and elegance in equal measure. Cinnamon, baked plum and dark cherry ride along a soft, structured and age-worthy wine, which shows a touch of reduction, espresso bean and dusty rock minerality.

La Jota's flagship, the 2015 Merlot W.S. Keyes, captures all of the richness and ripeness of the vintage and yet retains a nice amount of freshness. Blackberry jam, crème de cassis, licorice, plum and cloves infuse this decidedly rich, concentrated Merlot. Opulent, flamboyant and super-ripe, the 2015 has quite a bit to offer.

The 2014 Merlot is 90% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot aged in 76% new French oak. Carpenter told me that this wine emerges from a micro-terroir within the vineyard that has traditionally underperformed, but due to draconian crop-pruning and tiny yields, it has turned out to be a “rock star” in 2014. Dense purple, with a big, sweet kiss of mulberry, chocolate, mocha and coffee, the wine is luscious, fleshy, dramatic and even flamboyant, with fabulous fruit on the attack and mid-palate, silky tannin and a plush, layered mouthfeel. It is already drinking beautifully (as most 2014s are) and will continue to evolve nicely for another 12-15+ years.

Pure and powerful, with intense red berry and dark cherry flavors that are supported by fresh acidity and firm tannins. Dried green herb and spice notes show on the engaging and mineral-filled finish.

A compelling, unique wine, the 2014 Merlot W.S. Keyes exudes depth, richness and concentration. The 2014 is more of a blend, as it includes 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from Keyes, which is one of the most distinctive sites on Howell Mountain. Crème de cassis, lavender and a host of deeply spiced notes infuse the unctuous, rich finish. Most of the Merlot is from the old-vines section of Keyes, while the Cabernet is from younger vines.

This midnight purple colored Merlot from La Jota in very very good. It opens with a fragrant boysenberry and dark chocolate bouquet with hints of pomegranate. On the palate, this wine is full bodied and balanced. The flavor profile is a rich and extracted ripe blackberry and stewed plum blend with nicely integrated oak and minerality. I also detected a hint of blueberry in the background. The finish is dry and its solid and well-managed tannins linger and last nicely. This went perfect with my braised beef and rigatoni with sauteed wild mushrooms with a red wine reduced sauce.

The La Jota Merlot is more linear and more refined. It’s a trimmer, less opulent Merlot than the Mt. Brave, but within its leaner frame it hits the classic Merlot descriptors of smoothness, softness and richness. Holding the wine in your mouth and swishing it around, you can feel the silkiness of texture within the wine’s firm tannin, and sense the impeccable balance of acid and tannin to fruit and alcohol. The fruit itself is outstanding, seeming to embody a perfect acid to sweet-ripeness ratio. Aromas and flavors are pure and precise, suggesting blackberry and plum mingled with mocha and a cool minerality. It is thoroughly enjoyable now for those who enjoy more subtle wines, and its balance argues for long potential.

The Surprise of 2015 in Napa and Other California Wine Reviewed Fresh blackcurrants, herbs, ivy, licorice and dried violets. Full-bodied with lovely tangy fruit, a real dash of acidity, grippy tannins and a long, structured finish. Drink in 2021.

This is a 100% varietal wine, juicy and broad on the palate with mouth-filling tannins that show its youthful vigor. Cherry and raspberry liqueur flavors run deep, wrapped in sizable oak and well-integrated accents of cedar and dried herb. This stands to be cellared; enjoy best 2024 through 2029.

A very nice, dry Cab Franc that shows real elegance and sophistication. The tannins are rather fierce, with a sandpapery astringency, and the wine shows a deep, pure core of red and black cherries. Delicious and complex, but those tannins need rich fare for balance. Lamb comes to mind.

Dense and firm with rich spice; deep with complex flavors of plum; lovely.

Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets - Part 1 The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most distinctive wines in this range from La Jota. Powerful and vertical in feel, the 2016 offers quite a bit of energy. A rush of blueberry jam, dark chocolate, licorice and grilled herbs give the wine its drive and pure power, while savory overtones add lovely aromatic complexity.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain is the largest cuvée (2,675 cases) and a blend of all five Bordeaux varieties: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec. It’s a beauty. Opaque purple, with notes of licorice, charcoal, lead-pencil shavings, blackcurrants and spice, the wine is full-bodied, opulent, lavishly rich and pure, with sweet tannin and a long finish. This wine is approachable now, but promises to age beautifully for 20-25 years.

Tight, firm and austere; smooth with fine structure; elegant, tangy and long; balanced and made to last a long time.

Fat, fleshy and ripe, showing masses of blackberry nectar, smoky-sweet new oak, vanilla, cocoa and Asian spices that are delivered with pinpoint focus and depth. Crisp acidity gives it a fresh, clean feel. Flamboyant and impressive now for its sheer opulence, but Howell Mountain tannins give it the room to gain bottle complexity through at least 2018.

The 2017s From Sonoma From a site on true Sonoma Coast that lies above the fog line and consists of goldridge soils, the 2016 Pinot Noir Shell Ridge reveals a vibrant purple/ruby color as well as complex notes of red currants, blood orange, spice, and exotic flowers. Medium-bodied, it has a perfumed, high-toned character, notable elegance, and a pretty, complex, satisfying style. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.

Expressive and well-structured, with lively and layered raspberry, violet and flint notes, finishing with refined tannins.

Sizzling acidity enlivens the succulent, juicy fruit in this lush expression of the appellation. Made from grapes sourced in the Olivet Lane area, it builds in exotic spiciness, with forest, herb, earth and tea accents that grace the foundation of strawberry and blackberry flavors.

From two separate sites, the 2015 Pinot Noir Fog Veil was destemmed and saw a slightly longer time in barrel, being bottled after 15 months. Black cherries, plums, violets, and spring flower notes, medium body, beautifully integrated acidity, and a clean, elegant finish all make for a seriously good Pinot Noir. It’s one of the gems in this lineup.

Fleshy cherry and dark spice with a long, naughty finish on this California Pinot Noir. Medium-bodied and satin smooth like lingerie. A supple red wine with cherry-berry mouth-filling wonder and flavours. Just enough oak for hedonists. Layered yet not heavy. This pinot has been one of my favourites for years. Satin seduction in a glass. Pair with roasted turkey or chicken.