2015 Dana Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard (this is the coolest site they work with) from Howell Mountain has a slightly fresher, more black fruit-driven style in its espresso, crushed rocks, scorched earth, and chocolate-tinged aromas and flavors. On the palate, it’s beautifully full-bodied and rich, with a seamless texture, perfectly integrated acidity and tannins, and a great finish. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age but is another thrilling wine.

Dana's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard offers an attractive combination of the primary intensity of the year allied to the natural structure of Howell Mountain. Inky, deep and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2015 Hershey is super expressive today. Graphite, menthol, plum, lavender and pencil shavings add shades of nuance, and yet the intensity of the fruit dominates. I won't be surprised to see the 2015 grow even more in bottle. This is a terrific showing from the 2015 Hershey.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard is terrific. Super-ripe, inky blue/purplish fruit is pushed forward. Today, the Hershey is distinctly racy and forward, moreso than I remember based on how the wine showed from barrel. Howell Mountain signatures are present, but the tannins are unusually soft for a young mountain wine. I am not at all surprised winemaker Chris Cooney decided to bottle the 2015 a bit earlier than normal.