Graphite, smoke, incense, lavender, plum and sweet French oak hit the palate in La Jota's 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Chris Carpenter has done a tremendous job in crafting a Cabernet that is both deeply expressive of Howell Mountain, but with enough sweetness in the tannins and overall juiciness to drink well with minimal cellaring.

Shows the freshness and richness of the 2013 vintage with blackberry, walnut and blueberry character. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a savory finish. Drink in 2019.

Rich and full-blown, with a deep core of zesty blackberry and wild berry, appropriately framed by dusty earth and cedary tannins. The finish is pleasantly rocky and rustic. Drink now through 2028.

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the more complete, well-rounded wines in the La Jota range. Dark red and black cherry, plum, spice, new leather, smoke and licorice are some of the notes that wrap around the palate. The 2012 is dark, voluptuous and juicy, all signatures of the year. In 2012, the blend is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot.

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Merlot aged in 89% new French oak. La Jota's largest cuvée (3,850 cases), it boasts a dense purple color as well as copious notes of licorice, crème de cassis, road tar, charcoal and mulberries. With exceptional fruit intensity, full-bodied opulence, decent acidity and sweet, lush, well-integrated tannin, it should drink well for 10-15+ years.

A solid cab with mineral, floral, stone and black currant. Full and chewy. There's tannin tension and intensity. Very stylish. Drink or hold.

A soft and savory red with plum, raisin and spice aromas and flavors. Full body, velvety tannins and a fruity finish. Drink or hold.

This is not as thunderous as Howell Mountain cabernets can be, said Tonya Pitts of San Francisco's One Market, commenting on the freshness of the acidity carrying the flavors through the finish. While the fruit is ripe, floral and red, the tannins have the blackness of creosote, lending the wine power and density without feeling aggressive. Decant it to take on the char of grilled lamb chops.

Dense, ripe and juicy with notes of earth, spice and plum; intense and complex, layered and rich with tangy, vivid style. Give it time.

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon shows considerable richness, breadth and power. Dark red berries, grilled herbs, licorice and new leather flesh out in this generous, large-scaled wine. Sweet floral, and mentholated notes are layered into the delineated, tense finish. This is a decidedly soft, gentle wine for Howell Mountain, perhaps because of the addition of 10% Merlot in the blend, which also includes smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Very earthy and spicy, with plum and smoked-meat aromas. Full body, round texture of soft, velvety tannins and a medium finish.

Seriously delicious. Full of flavour, with rich damson plums and spicy black pepper held in check by silky tannins. Feel the sunshine in the fruit; the grip is firm, and the palate is led upwards in the final moments by a shot of juicy acidity. From grapes grown at elevation – meaning above the fog line – east of Angwin on Howell Mountain, this is an intense rendition of Cabernet without losing its balance. Highly recommended.

Seriously delicious. Full of flavour, with rich damson plums and spicy black pepper held in check by silky tannins. Feel the sunshine in the fruit; the grip is firm, and the palate is led upwards in the final moments by a shot of juicy acidity. From grapes grown at elevation - meaning above the fog line - east of Angwin on Howell Mountain, this is an intense rendition of Cabernet without losing its balance. Highly recommended.

Intense, supple and graceful, with a potent beam of mineral-laced dried berry, currant, cedar and tobacco flavors, fulfilling its focus and promising a long life ahead.

Mocha and dark chocolate with big black plums. Full-bodied and supple.

A contrast of plump, succulent fruit and hard, stony tannin, this gives a clear taste of Howell Mountain intensity while remaining floral and fine. The violet scents and the dark earthiness should grow into deeper complexity as it ages. Cellar through 2012 or '14.

92 Points - 2002 La Jota Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.

The most impressive wine of this trio is the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon 20th Anniversary. Fashioned from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the winery's finest Howell Mountain lots, it boasts a dense purple color along with a big, sweet bouquet of boysenberries, blueberries, black currants, licorice, charcoal and damp earth. There is great fruit on the attack and mid-palate, plenty of tannin to be resolved and a fresh, long, concentrated, vigorous finish. It will benefit from another 2-3 years of cellaring and should drink well for 15+ years.

Open black cherry, spicy, cola, earth and pepper aromas with a touch of barnyard and strawberry jam in the background. Round and moderately rich with supple mouth feel. Finish is soft and balanced with earth and strawberry. Very good quality for current and near-term consumption.

Pinot Noir World Series

Lush and round with spice and berry fruit; long and complex and delicious.

Spicy and suave, with sandalwood and cardamom notes to the cherry tart and baked plum flavors. Chocolate and cream details show on the rich finish.

The 2017s From Sonoma More exotic, the 2016 Pinot Noir Fog Veil comes from the estate Piner and Piner-Olivet Vineyards in the Russian River and was aged 15 months in 37% new French oak. Lots of red and black fruits, baking spices, dried earth, and even a hint of caramelized orange zest give way to a medium-bodied, rounded, supple, nicely textured Pinot Noir that has loads of character. Drink it over the coming 4-6 years.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2016 Pinot Noir Green Valley is medium ruby-purple in color and opens with opulent black cherries, black raspberries and baking spices notes with nuances of rose petals, violets, dried herbs and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers wonderfully nuanced red and black berry flavors, with a grainy texture and great freshness paving the long finish.

This might be my favorite Pinot Noir in the under fifty dollar range, as I have enjoyed many superb vintages over the last two decades, and the 2015 vintage is simply delightful! We enjoyed a bottle with our Christmas Feast, which featured medium rare beef tenderloin. The scent of fresh made jam wafts up from the bottle to add to the aroma of the Christmas Dinner table. The flavors are thick and juicy with a preponderance of cherry and strawberry. There is an undercurrent of plum and raspberry which lead to mild toasty oak tannins. The finish is powerful and long, and sails off into the night begging for another sip! The alcohol content is 14.5% and Norm's score is 92. The wine was superb with our roasted tenderloin, but I have also enjoyed this wine with grilled salmon, and once with broiled cold water lobster tails. I don't think you can find a better Pinot Noir for under fifty dollars.