Beautiful deep garnet color. Decanted for one hour. Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, baking chocolate, with hints of vanilla. Flavors of dark fruits, warm Eastern spices, pencil shavings, and faint cedar. Acidity still quite good. Tannins are softer than earlier tastings but full and long. Biggest surprise is, although integrated and mellow, still has some angles and bright notes after nine years.
Drinking very nicely now but I’m sure can run for another 5+ years. More a December fireside wine than a July bayside wine.
Enjoyed with a boneless NY strip steak simply seared topped with sautéed mixed exotic mushrooms.
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Decanted 30 minutes but I think it needed more air. Bright mountain fruit, surprisingly medium body that probably was due to lack of decant, saucy acid. Delicious but left me wanting more.
Stunning. The nose draws you in immediately. Honestly, it's almost enough ... till you realize it might also taste that good. Decanted 2 hours and it does taste as good as you thought possible. Bold, rich and dark fruits. The tannins on the finish, while present, do not dominate and complete the symphony. A few (5) hours later now and it has improved further. Simply a joy to drink..
Decanted 1hr at room cellar temp. Beautiful wine but still not fully integrated. Black cherry, black raspberry, black berry, Turkish coffee, bitter chocolate, earth and rock lead to a dry finish. Hopefully with time this will ripen the tannins a bit more.
Napa 2018; 6/28/2018-7/3/2018 (Napa): Might have gotten a higher score if not for the Cardinale in the same tasting. Nose and palate tell you this is definitely Howell Mtn. Definitely a well made wine. These are pricey but boy do they deliver year after year after year.
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First stop on our fifth day in Napa Valley is Cardinale Winery. Fourth wine is from Lokoya and their Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, which is made up of 100% Cabernet Sauvingon from W.S. Keyes Vineyard on Howell Mountain at an elevation of 1,825 feet. Aged for a total of 19 months in 100% new French oak.
Inky purplish red and completely coats the glass. Rich nose with light dried herbs, red berries and cocoa. Heavy and grippy tannins (8.5/10) and full bodied. Balanced acidity coated in volcanic soil, black raspberries, cherries some blackberries. Long, dry and lingering finish. Drink till 2038. (95+)
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deep inky purple; exciting pepper flowers, well done steak in the nose; luscious dark fruit, plums, very long lingering AT. Powerful, fruit forward, an absolute pleasure to drink!
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Tasted at the Lokoya estate, definitely hard to tell which wine I preferred, the Howell or the Veeder, either way to me they both far surpassed the Spring and Diamond wines. Tremendous bouquet full of subtle red fruit, density, and texture. The colour is incredibly opaque, the flavour differs slightly from the bouquet, and in the taste you will find more black fruit over the original red, creme de cassis and graphite. The wine gloriously coats your mouth with cascades of texture, flavour and sophistication. Looking forward to returning to this wine in the next few years. Well done!
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Lokoya Tasting: Let’s just say this was by far my favorite of the 2014 Lokoyas. A complex yet elegant nose with blackcurrants, plum, red fruit, mix of green herbs and violets and vanilla. On the palate, there is so much stony refinement and restraint. There is a very nice structure and minerality in this wine and the silky fruit brings back memories of the Medoc. However, for old world collectors, I think this wine just seems too cool – the backbone of stone mixed with a nice body of fruit seems representative of the terroir but are wines supposed to taste like this? At least it doesn’t taste like a traditional punchy Californian wine? It feels like a Pichon Lalande in the Mountains, i.e. minerality in German Rieslings + wine from Pauillac + uniquely shaded terroir in Howell Mtn -> the wine I tasted today. It is really enjoyable but not seductive in the style of a grand Pauillac. It is like an interesting Mtn brother though. 97+ (up to 98.5)
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Winorama: A winter in Wineland II; 1/6/2018-1/14/2018 (Portland, Eureka, Napa): Tasted at the winery. I didn't realize this, but this is a vineyard up on Howell where it's generally surrounded by pine and gets a fair amount of shade. Seems to lead to a very powerful but also very refined wine. Lots of fig and plum and sage and nuts. Funnily enough more open for business than Veeder right away. Very enjoyable and prob my second favorite of the tasting.
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K&L Grand Cab tasting. Beautiful structure, full bodied, fruit and tannins perfectly balanced, medium finish. Lush wine that leaves you wanting more. Near perfect.
K&L "2014 Napa Valley Titans" Tasting (K&L Wines, Redwood City, CA): K&L "2014 Napa Valley Titans" Tasting: Lush aromas of blackberry, fresh cut oak, and leather give way to intense blackberry flavors, supported by crisp acids, silky tannins, and an overall voluptuous texture. Full-bodied, complex, beautifully structured.
MW 2017 CABERNET FROM THE AMERICAS TASTING-WILDFIRE RELIEF FUNDRAISER, nose earth, minerals, forest floor, and black berry, same on the palate, big body, very tasty, mouth filling fruit, needs 5 years to peak, and a medium amount of soft tannins showing during the long finish.
7/1/2023 - IrishDerby Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful deep garnet color. Decanted for one hour. Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, baking chocolate, with hints of vanilla. Flavors of dark fruits, warm Eastern spices, pencil shavings, and faint cedar. Acidity still quite good. Tannins are softer than earlier tastings but full and long. Biggest surprise is, although integrated and mellow, still has some angles and bright notes after nine years.
Drinking very nicely now but I’m sure can run for another 5+ years. More a December fireside wine than a July bayside wine.
Enjoyed with a boneless NY strip steak simply seared topped with sautéed mixed exotic mushrooms.
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6/16/2021 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 30 minutes but I think it needed more air. Bright mountain fruit, surprisingly medium body that probably was due to lack of decant, saucy acid. Delicious but left me wanting more.
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5/8/2021 - greg@newsomehh.com Likes this wine: 95 Points
Mothers Day, killer selection
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4/18/2021 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine: 96 Points
Stunning. The nose draws you in immediately. Honestly, it's almost enough ... till you realize it might also taste that good.
Decanted 2 hours and it does taste as good as you thought possible. Bold, rich and dark fruits. The tannins on the finish, while present, do not dominate and complete the symphony.
A few (5) hours later now and it has improved further. Simply a joy to drink..
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12/30/2020 - bstahl07 Likes this wine:
Just stupid good
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9/26/2020 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 1hr at room cellar temp. Beautiful wine but still not fully integrated. Black cherry, black raspberry, black berry, Turkish coffee, bitter chocolate, earth and rock lead to a dry finish. Hopefully with time this will ripen the tannins a bit more.
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3/17/2020 - GFischmann wrote: 95 Points
Dark cherry, plum with oak hint of smoke and earthy aromas
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10/26/2019 - mattiasjansson wrote: 94 Points
Lokoya/Cardinale Dinner: Young, restrained. Tannins need time to integrate, but this is already a beautiful wine.
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10/4/2019 - robertek wrote: 95 Points
Stillv ery young with mostly primary mountain fruit. Well integrated and fine grained tannins - a pleasure to drink already.
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7/3/2018 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 95 Points
Napa 2018; 6/28/2018-7/3/2018 (Napa): Might have gotten a higher score if not for the Cardinale in the same tasting. Nose and palate tell you this is definitely Howell Mtn. Definitely a well made wine. These are pricey but boy do they deliver year after year after year.
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5/31/2018 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 95 Points
First stop on our fifth day in Napa Valley is Cardinale Winery. Fourth wine is from Lokoya and their Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, which is made up of 100% Cabernet Sauvingon from W.S. Keyes Vineyard on Howell Mountain at an elevation of 1,825 feet. Aged for a total of 19 months in 100% new French oak.
Inky purplish red and completely coats the glass. Rich nose with light dried herbs, red berries and cocoa. Heavy and grippy tannins (8.5/10) and full bodied. Balanced acidity coated in volcanic soil, black raspberries, cherries some blackberries. Long, dry and lingering finish. Drink till 2038. (95+)
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4/21/2018 - nfurlong Likes this wine: 97 Points
deep inky purple; exciting pepper flowers, well done steak in the nose; luscious dark fruit, plums, very long lingering AT. Powerful, fruit forward, an absolute pleasure to drink!
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3/5/2018 - J.S Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted at the Lokoya estate, definitely hard to tell which wine I preferred, the Howell or the Veeder, either way to me they both far surpassed the Spring and Diamond wines.
Tremendous bouquet full of subtle red fruit, density, and texture. The colour is incredibly opaque, the flavour differs slightly from the bouquet, and in the taste you will find more black fruit over the original red, creme de cassis and graphite. The wine gloriously coats your mouth with cascades of texture, flavour and sophistication. Looking forward to returning to this wine in the next few years. Well done!
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2/10/2018 - jonasfrommars Likes this wine: 97 Points
Lokoya Tasting: Let’s just say this was by far my favorite of the 2014 Lokoyas. A complex yet elegant nose with blackcurrants, plum, red fruit, mix of green herbs and violets and vanilla. On the palate, there is so much stony refinement and restraint. There is a very nice structure and minerality in this wine and the silky fruit brings back memories of the Medoc. However, for old world collectors, I think this wine just seems too cool – the backbone of stone mixed with a nice body of fruit seems representative of the terroir but are wines supposed to taste like this? At least it doesn’t taste like a traditional punchy Californian wine? It feels like a Pichon Lalande in the Mountains, i.e. minerality in German Rieslings + wine from Pauillac + uniquely shaded terroir in Howell Mtn -> the wine I tasted today. It is really enjoyable but not seductive in the style of a grand Pauillac. It is like an interesting Mtn brother though. 97+ (up to 98.5)
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1/13/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Winorama: A winter in Wineland II; 1/6/2018-1/14/2018 (Portland, Eureka, Napa): Tasted at the winery. I didn't realize this, but this is a vineyard up on Howell where it's generally surrounded by pine and gets a fair amount of shade. Seems to lead to a very powerful but also very refined wine. Lots of fig and plum and sage and nuts. Funnily enough more open for business than Veeder right away. Very enjoyable and prob my second favorite of the tasting.
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11/4/2017 - Travilton Likes this wine: 99 Points
K&L Grand Cab tasting. Beautiful structure, full bodied, fruit and tannins perfectly balanced, medium finish. Lush wine that leaves you wanting more. Near perfect.
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11/4/2017 - daveyk39 Likes this wine: 98 Points
K&L "2014 Napa Valley Titans" Tasting (K&L Wines, Redwood City, CA): K&L "2014 Napa Valley Titans" Tasting: Lush aromas of blackberry, fresh cut oak, and leather give way to intense blackberry flavors, supported by crisp acids, silky tannins, and an overall voluptuous texture. Full-bodied, complex, beautifully structured.
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10/30/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 89 Points
IMW - Cab / Cab Franc Walk-Around Tasting 2018 (mostly 2014 vintage) (Hyatt, San Francisco): Ripe blackcurrant with some baking spice oak. Very structured. Aggressive high acid and tannin.
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10/30/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 95 Points
MW 2017 CABERNET FROM THE AMERICAS TASTING-WILDFIRE RELIEF FUNDRAISER, nose earth, minerals, forest floor, and black berry, same on the palate, big body, very tasty, mouth filling fruit, needs 5 years to peak, and a medium amount of soft tannins showing during the long finish.
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