2018 Ink Grade Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

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  • Crazy Deal on Howell Mountain Estate Cabernet
  • "Very Beautiful Aromas" ~ 95 James Suckling
  • "Powerful Yet Velvety" ~ 93 Wine Enthusiast
  • Crafted from Hand-Selected Vines
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About the Wine

Ink Grade Vineyard’s story began in 1873, when pioneers like Theron Ink carved vineyards into the rugged slopes of what would become Howell Mountain. Their belief in the land’s potential sparked a legacy that would later capture the attention of one of Napa’s most influential names.

In 1989, Heitz Cellar—a benchmark in Napa Valley—purchased the property, replanted the vineyards, and began using its fruit for their iconic Cabernet. Nearly three decades later, in 2018, entrepreneur Gaylon M. Lawrence Jr. acquired Heitz and appointed Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy Jr. as CEO. By 2020, they formed Lawrence Wine Estates and revived Ink Grade as a standalone estate led by Winemaker Matt Taylor, known for his precise, site-driven style.

Today, Ink Grade is a bold yet refined expression of Howell Mountain terroir, producing wines such as Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain Merlot, Andosol Red Field Blend, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Perched up to 2,200 feet above the valley floor, the estate’s terraced vines cling to volcanic tufa soils—a dramatic landscape that yields grapes with remarkable color, intensity, and aromatic lift.

2018 Howell Mountain Cabernet is crafted from the estate’s highest-elevation parcels. Hand-selected fruit, gentle fermentation, minimal new oak, and large aging vessels preserve purity, tension, and precision.

The result is a Cabernet of depth and energy—fresh, bright, and profoundly expressive. A true artifact of place, the wine stands as a grand cru of Howell Mountain, capturing Napa’s heritage while driving its modern renaissance.

Ink Grade captures that spirit—a wine of origin, history, and energy, uniting Napa’s heritage with its modern renaissance.

8 Months in oak tank, followed by 24 months in barrel (85% new)

ABV: 13.5%

Tasting Notes

100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The high-elevation, 30-year-old vineyard delivers a wine with crackling acidity, fine-cut tannins, and a savory-spiced profile that swings from black olive to Chinese 5-spice.

The fruit hits that perfect sweet spot—ripe yet tart, black and blue in elegant balance. And true to its origin, the wine pulses with graphite, iron, and flint, a bold signature of the Aiken soils that makes this site unmistakable in every sip.

Critical Reviews

Very beautiful aromas of blackcurrants, violets, and lavender with hints of sandalwood. Medium to full body. Chewy mountain tannins, but they are so well integrated and polished that they melt into the wine. Hints of dried cocoa powder at the end with some cedar. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. ~ 95 James Suckling

A flash of mint and a flurry of slightly high-pitched iris and rose petal notes dart to the fore here, followed quickly by red and black currant, cherry and damson plum fruit flavors. There's a long tug of iron running underneath, with the iris accents taking an encore. A bit atypical for Howell Mountain, but that adds to its intrigue. Best from 2025 through 2037. 480 cases made. ~ 93 Wine Spectator

This powerful yet velvety wine overflows with black cherries, blueberries, clove and mint flavors on a bed of super-fine tannins that keep it soft on the palate yet provide good structure for more aging. Best from 2025-2035. ~ 93 Wine Enthusiast

Scents of pine resin and hints of mint accent black cherry and cassis notes on the nose of Ink Grade's 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain. It's a sturdy, wiry effort, with the ample tannins and coiled intensity that often mark mountain wines, followed by a lingering, gently astringent finish. Like the other reds from Ink Grade, it spent time in a combination of oak tanks and barrels, yet the wood is scarcely noticeable. Give it a few years to unwind.~ 93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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Food Pairing
Steak

Steak

Venison

Venison

Lamb

Lamb

Cheese

Cheese

Pork

Pork

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Ink Grade

Napa Valley, California

Born on the volcanic slopes of Howell Mountain, Ink Grade traces its roots back to 1873, when pioneer Theron Ink first planted vines on this rugged, fire-forged land. Today, those same steep, iron-rich soils and forested hillsides define an 800-acre estate that feels more wilderness than vineyard — a place where nature still leads.

Revived under Lawrence Wine Estates in 2020, Ink Grade honors both heritage and endurance, crafting wines that balance mountain power with European precision. Every grape fights for survival at 2,200 feet, drawing energy from the ancient volcanic rock beneath. The result is a collection of wines that capture the raw beauty, tension, and timeless strength of Napa’s most dramatic terroir.

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