2016 Cade Cabernet Sauvignon 13th Vineyard Reserve Howell Mountain

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) has a deep purple-black color, revealing youthfully reticent notions of black soil, cigar box, stewed tea and truffles with a core of crème de cassis, Black Forest cake, plum preserves and star anise plus wafts of underbrush and pencil lead. The bold, concentrated, full-bodied palate is a hedonist's dream, featuring bags of black fruit preserves and earthy accents and framed by very firm, super ripe tannins, finishing with epic length and depth.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve shows a degree of nuance and polish the Reserve Cabernets here have not often shown. I suspect much of that is attributable to the significant presence (around 30%) of fruit from the Ladera estate. Even with all of its refinement, the 2016 remains a classically potent Howell Mountain Cabernet with considerable size and volume. Inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, menthol and dark spice meld into the expressive finish. This is an especially laid-back style for Cade.