2016 Robert Craig Black Sears Vineyard Howell Mountain Zinfandel Napa Valley

• Only 355 cases made
  
• Top of Howell Mtn, Black Sears Vnyd
  
• "Consistently Excellent", Robert Parker
• 98pt Vintage, Wine Advocate
• Free Shipping on 12 or more bottles

About the Wine

This gorgeous Zinfandel hails from the incredible Black Sears Vineyard, located a stone’s throw from the estate vineyard gate at the top of Howell Mountain. When poured out, the wine’s signature Howell Mountain pedigree is immediately evident, with deep blackberry, white pepper and a refreshing minerality at the forefront.

Both biodynamic and organic, the site is dry farmed and the vines pruned in the old world style with no trellising. Zinfandel thrives in the mountain’s well-drained, rocky volcanic soils and moderate climate. Without doubt, the Black Sears Vineyard is the finest zinfandel vineyard in the world, and we are lucky to get a little fruit each year to make something special and rare.

The 2016 vintage is beautifully clean and focused with boysenberry and bramble berry on the nose and palate wrapped in subtle pepper spice. This beauty is balanced and elegantly structured through the finish.

Aging: 18 months in French oak, 50% new.
 

About the Winery

Robert Craig Winery is situated at 2300 ft. on top of Howell Mountain, Napa, and has been leading the way in mountain vineyard production for over 30 years. It creates four Cabernet Sauvignons made exclusively from its Napa Valley mountain and hillside vineyards. Each wine is carefully crafted to convey a unique personality derived from the soils, climate and varietal characteristics of the growing region. 

In recent years, the hillside vineyard has been farmed for higher stress levels and better uniformity throughout. The cane-pruned 30-year-old vines bear just 2.8 tons per acre, offering a rare display of the volcanic, stony soils in the finished wine. 

Reviews

NYR

"Robert Craig winery has been consistently excellent throughout my tastings in Napa going back many, many years. They've also kept a lid on pricing, which remains realistic and consumer-friendly." ~Robert Parker, Wine Advocate