2021 La Jota Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

La Jota Vineyard Co. has been growing grapes on Howell Mountain since 1888 — W.S. Keyes planted the first vines, Fredrick Hess built the stone winery a decade later, and both men took home medals from the Paris Exposition of 1900. Today the estate is part of Jackson Family Wines, sitting at 1,400 to 2,000 feet on volcanic ash and red clay soils above the fog line, pulling fruit from the 8-hectare La Jota estate and the 24-hectare W.S. Keyes Vineyard.

At the helm is Chris Carpenter, the same winemaker behind Cardinale, Lokoya, and Mt. Brave — widely regarded as one of the finest craftsmen of powerful, mountain-grown Cabernet of his generation. His approach is straightforward: maximum attention in the vineyard, minimal intervention in the winery. Native yeast fermentations, hand pump-overs, and 22 months in 75% new French oak from eight different coopers. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The 2021 vintage tells a specific story: wildfire smoke in 2020 reduced sunlight exposure, which set the vines up for yields down 30–35% the following season. Less wine, but extraordinary concentration — saturated dark fruit, ironstone minerality, and fresh garrigue running through every layer. Drink now with a long decant, or cellar confidently through 2040.