Notes from Elton Slone:
For the first time in my twenty one vintages here at RCW, I’m worried that one of our wines might be too good. Make no mistake that our 2023 wines are all exceptional from a noteworthy long, cool growing season. Unlike the valley floor, where yields were at 10-year highs, frost and wind during flower and fruit set kept our harvest to slightly below average tons.
Our 2023 Howell Mountain Cuvée is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (93%) with the remainder of the blend composed of Malbec from the terraces along the upper portion of our Candlestick Ridge vineyard. Since its inception, this young-vine blend with fewer months in French Oak and less time in bottle before release has been hugely popular with the press, our mailing listers and select restaurants around the country.
Whereas the inaugural 2018 vintage release was more elegant and forward due to the nature of the growing season, our 2023 Howell Mountain Cuvée is a full-on immersion in the power, complexity and site display that make Howell Mountain unique. Just as I’ve always preferred the Valpolicella from Giuseppe Quintarelli to his more heavy handed Amarone della Valpolicella, it’s hard for me to not fall in love with the little brother of our Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Estate.
Our Howell Mountain Cuvée is no longer offered to distributors, only to our direct customers and a few long-term restaurant supporters. The production is tiny at 300 cases, so don’t hesitate to put some of this 2023 in your cellar. After an initial pre-release to Craig members, this wine will be available to all on our online wine shop (starting August 5, 2025). Enjoy some with a good decant two weeks after it arrives, but be sure to put some in the cellar as well. This single vineyard Howell Mountain beauty has all the chops to improve for a decade or more in the cellar. Of course the vineyard is certified organic as well.
I’m looking forward to hearing your response to this fantastic wine.
97% CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 3% MALBEC | CANDLESTICK RIDGE
2023 Howell Mountain Cuvée
The 2023 Cuvée is deep and complex with a delightful backbone from the cool vintage. There is a suppleness and weight on the center of the palate that is reminiscent of the most exclusive Cabernet based wines produced in the Napa Valley at any price. I’m blown away by the utter brute quality of the finished wine for this summer’s release.
RETAIL: $65/BOTTLE [starting 8/5]
24 BOTTLES MAX PER CUSTOMER
Wines will ship as weather permits.
