The 2019 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a standout red wine that has garnered widespread acclaim from several well-respected wine reviewers. Sourced from a single vineyard in the Howell Mountain sub-appellation of Napa, California, this wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 1.5% Petit Verdot, 1.5% Saint-Macaire, 1% Carménère, and 1% Cabernet Franc.
Winemaker Sean Capiaux, who has been crafting this Howell Mountain staple for over two decades, has delivered a remarkable wine in 2019. According to Decanter, which awarded the wine a score of 97, Capiaux has created a "knockout" with "explosive aromas of ripe, black fruit, wild mountain sage, turned earth, and toasty oak." The wine is described as "enveloping on the palate with an intricate mix of black cherry, blackberry, and blueberry fruit," combined with "savoury notes of crushed stones, cassis, wildflowers," and finishes "long and with vibrancy and lift."
Jeb Dunnuck gave the wine an impressive 98 points, calling it "an incredible wine" that "flirts with perfection." He praised its "full-bodied and concentrated" nature, noting its "flawless balance and elegance" and describing it as having "just textbook Howell Mountain notes of blue fruits, cassis, violets, graphite, and background oak." Dunnuck highlighted the wine's "remarkable purity of fruit" and its "great, great finish," suggesting it has "over two decades of longevity."
James Suckling, who scored it 94, observed "notes of dark spices, cocoa, and bark with ripe blackberries and plums." He described it as "full-bodied with ripe, succulent dark and blue fruit coated with velvety tannins," and mentioned its "plush and lingering" nature with a "spicy finish and some earthiness."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also rated it 94, highlighting its "blueberries and bay leaves" aroma that develops hints of "cassis and sage." The review noted the wine's "softly tannic" palate and "enough grip to suggest more than a decade of aging potential."
Vinous appreciated its "lovely brightness and energy" in a "mid-weight style," awarding it 94 points. They described it as "approachable for a young Howell Mountain wine" with "sweet dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice, tobacco, and lavender" and praised its "gracious, polished" nature.
Overall, the 2019 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a critically acclaimed wine with robust flavors, excellent aging potential, and a well-balanced profile that has impressed reviewers across the board.