2019 Elyse Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (1/24/2023)
Sometimes people think that very ripe fruit obscures sense of place. This Cabernet is clearly very ripe fruit, but there is still that high toned expression of mountain fruit. Fresh red berry fruit and spicy (hi oak!) tones dominate the aromatics, and on the palate the acids and tannins kick in to balance rich, ripe fruit. For the fruit-phobic it’s probably too much, but overall it’s only a few degrees past classic, and a lovely way to finish a Tuesday night.