2022 La Jota Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

Winemaker Chris Carpenter explains that La Jota’s wines tend to offer more generous, approachable tannins—making them ideal for restaurant lists. That accessibility, he notes, comes down to thoughtful decisions around clone, rootstock, and site selection. Some vineyard blocks naturally yield softer, more inviting tannins, as opposed to dense, palate-etching structures. He seeks Cabernet Sauvignon expressions that are powerful and present, yet have a gentler texture. This blend was aged for 22 months in 77% new French oak. The 2022 is exceptionally approachable, with generous, plump, velvety tannins that still carry mountain intensity, but are beautifully integrated. The wine boasts a vibrant core of juicy mulberry fruit, perfumed with notes of thyme, rosemary, and sage. It finishes with a precise ironstone minerality and a subtle saline edge, reminiscent of pink Himalayan salt. ~ 97 Decanter

A beautiful, balanced, elegant wine from mountain vineyards that has great structure for aging, but also is drinkable soon, after decanting. Blackcurrants, baked blackberries, spearmint, dark chocolate and cherry syrup. Tannins are velvety and fine-grained, caressing the palate and leading to a lingering finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2030. ~ 96 James Suckling

~ 95 The Wine Palate

The 2022 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a mountain powerhouse, offering up a complex bouquet of red cassis, purple fruits, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and violets, with underlying notes of iron and forest floor. Based on 91.5% Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, and aged 22 months in 77% new French oak, this full-bodied, concentrated effort has a focused, structured profile on the palate with plenty of ripe tannins that will benefit from short-term cellaring. This classic Howell Mountain Cabernet should evolve gracefully for 15-20 years. ~ 94 Jeb Dunnuck

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is more than 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Twenty-two months in 77% new French oak has given a cedary veneer to the ripe cherries and hint of pine on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is plush and velvety without being soft, approachable but with enough substance to keep things interesting sip after sip, with a long, richly textured finish. ~ 93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This is fairly dense in feel, but with energy amid its core of dark boysenberry and blackberry compote. Pretty notes of iris and licorice snap fill in as a strong spine of roasted apple wood provides support, with a subtle twinge of balsam wood along the edges. A strong effort. Drink now through 2037. 2,882 cases made. ~ 93 Wine Spectator