The Howell Mountain Appellation
The Howell Mountain District lies in the Vaca Mountains east of Calistoga within the Napa Valley appellation. Elevation defines the appellation: the boundary basically follows the 1,400 foot contour line around a cigar shaped, flat topped mesa approximately 8 miles long and 3 miles wide.
The 1,400 foot contour was chosen because it represents the ceiling above which fog rarely rises. As a result, vineyards on Howell Mountain warm up earlier most mornings than vineyards on the valley floor. Equally important, they are above the inversion layer which traps heat in the valley during the day. The cooling breeze early each afternoon serves to smooth out the day/night temperature differential.
Bud break on Howell Mountain is about three weeks after the rest of the Napa Valley, consequently harvest is about three weeks later as well. This is some of the latest Cabernet Sauvignon in the valley to ripen due to the lean hillside soils and the elevation of the vineyards on Howell Mountain.The yield averages two to two and a half tons per acre. While temperatures are moderate, the daily pattern is reversed: on a hot day it is warmer in the morning since the vineyard is above the fog on the valley floor, and cooler later in the day which concentrates the flavors. The later ripening allows "hang time" when the intensity of flavor develops and the tannins soften.
Vineyards on Howell Mountain were first planted back in the 1880s, primarily to Zinfandel, but recent years have seen increasing plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain generally displays intense and concentrated fruit with currant, cherry and raspberry notes, often with hints of earth and herb.
Vineyard Sources for the Napa Valley Designation
Winemaker Celia Masyczek is always on the lookout for exceptional fruit for our Napa Valley bottling. The 2002 is composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Sweetwater Ranch on the valley floor north of of the town of Napa; the J.J. Cohn Estate in Rutherford, partly valley floor ascending to hillside; and the addition of some Howell Mountain fruit from the Neal Family Estate. In Celia's words, "Each vineyard on its own makes beautifully balanced, intense wines and the combination of them is amazing".