| Score: |
97 RP.
"Classic aromas of graphite, crushed rocks, boysenberries, black raspberries, blackberries, and subtle wood soar from the glass of the inky/purple-colored 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain. Full-bodied and formidably endowed with awesome purity as well as a stunning, layered texture, this beauty has it all. Give it 5-6 years of bottle age and enjoy it over the next three decades. It is a prodigious Howell Mountain wine from Jess Jackson’s Keyes Vineyard. Jess Jackson, who has spawned some of California’s most talented winemakers, has Chris Carpenter behind the success of these wines. These current releases are the strongest efforts from Lokoya since their 1997s, 2001s, and 2002s. Production ranges from a low 200 cases for the Diamond Mountain, to over 1,000 cases for the highest rated cuvee, the Mount Veeder. All these wines have indigenous yeast fermentations, are aged approximately 21 months in new French oak, and are bottled with minimal clarification. They are made from what is essentially the best fruit from the remarkable array of vineyards owned by Jess Jackson." Wine Advocate #186, Dec 2009 |