REGAL WINE COMPANY® Lokoya Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (Napa Valley, California) – [RP 98] [JD 97+] [AG 97] [JS 96] [WS 96] – 6045600153759

Notes from the Winemaker:
At the northeastern side of Napa Valley’s Vaca Range, the Howell Mountain appellation peaks at 2,500 feet. Our estate W.S. Keyes Vineyard was planted in 1888, and has been the exclusive source for the Lokoya Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon since its first vintage in 1995. The vineyard sits at 1,825 feet, high above the fog line, where temperatures are cool but moderate, and Cabernet Sauvignon in particular thrives with extra time to ripen. The vines bask in a steady breeze and sunlight, surrounded by a forest of ponderosa pine. Lean, quick-draining soils force the vines to struggle, yielding small grapes that possess deep, concentrated flavor with a signature minerality and earthy undertone.

98 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate:
“The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is deep purple-black in color and offers an incredible perfume of lilacs, black truffles, violets and menthol over a core of cassis, mulberries and warm plums plus a waft of tobacco leaf. The palate is full-bodied and built like a brick house with very firm, very ripe tannins and oodles of freshness cutting through the earthy layers, finishing very long. 920 cases produced.” – Lisa Perrotti-Brown (29th Oct 2018)

97+ Points – Jeb Dunnuck:
“Lots of pine forest, savory herbs, California bay leaf, and both black and blue fruits emerge from the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain. It’s another full-bodied, singular wine from Chris that’s perfectly balanced, with beautiful concentration and the purity and balance that’s the hallmark of this great vintage. Short-term cellaring will be the name of the game here and it will be long-lived. Anticipated maturity: 2021-2046” – Jeb Dunnuck (1/31/2019)

97 Points – Vinous:
“The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain), all from Keyes, is dark and explosive on the palate, with tremendous thrust and intensity in all directions. Crushed rocks, menthol, crème de cassis, dark chocolate, pencil shavings and cured meats race out of the glass. Dense and potent, the 2016 has a very bright future ahead of it. The Howell Mountain is a wine of gravitas and pure power. ” Antonio Galloni – (Dec 2018)

96 Points – James Suckling:
4 Feb, 2019 – “I have not had many Howell Mountain cabernets like this with crushed blackberry and blueberry character. Nuanced. Full-bodied and extremely fine-textured. It goes on for minutes. Greatness. Drink after 2020.”

96 Points – Wine Spectator:
Features a deep well of cassis, steeped blackberry and warmed plum reduction flavors at the core, slowly unwinding to reveal streaks of graphite, alder and smoldering tobacco on the finish. Muscular but defined, with a deep tug of earth, this should cruise in the cellar. Best from 2024 through 2042. 920 cases made.