Ilona Howell Mountain

CB. Didn't finish my last glass. This was not showing well at all.

TB: Decent showing. Popped and decanted after pouring a small glass. Dark purple in color, some lightening at the edges. Strange nose and palate. Nose showed currant, cigar box, and some vanilla. Palate showed currant, spice, and some stewed tomato characteristics after air time. Still had some acidity and slight tannins. Perhaps overly fruity at this point while lacking a bit on the mid-palate. Finish fades off quickly, then re-attacks with blackberry and black cherry.

This 2000 Howell Mountain cab has really opened up with bottle age. The wine is still dark purple in color. Exhibiting a big nose of blackberry, currant, black cherry, spice, vanilla and a hint of mint. This wine is a big, intense mountain cab that delivers flavors of blackberry, vanilla, spicy oak and a touch of earth in the mouth. Nice depth and complexity, age has softened the tannins allow the wine to come into balance. Long, lingering 30+ second …

Drink up!

Deep purple color. Aromas of spice, black cherry, vanilla. Lush mouthfeel with supple tannins. Intense mountain fruit flavors. Substantial and well balanced finish.

Blackberry and currant come through on the nose. They are also the predominant flavors with a little bit of mushroom. Overall, this was a pretty dry, flat juice with a very short finish. The wine is a blend of Merlot, Cab, and Cab Franc, but there's not even a floral hint in the nose. Drank half the bottle then corked what was left and put in the refrigerator in hopes that it would be better the next day. It wasn't. …