2006 & 2007 White Cottage Napa Howell Mtn Cabernet Duo

1 x 2006 White Cottage Napa Howell Mtn Cabernet Sauvignon
1 x 2007 White Cottage Napa Howell Mtn Cabernet Sauvignon

Released exclusively for Lot18, this White Cottage duo is an opportunity to introduce yourself to a renowned producer of estate-grown, Howell Mountain Cabernet. You must jump on this offer quickly; it is making headlines, and production is minuscule.

Perched atop Howell Mountain, White Cottage Ranch is a patchwork of 24 biodynamic and organically farmed acres of estate vineyards. Evenings are warmer and days are cooler at this altitude, giving the grapes ample opportunity to fully ripen. The diverse land is a combination of volcanic ash, clay and rocky, well-drained soils where the vines struggle and, in turn, grow grapes that produce wines of magnificent character and finesse.

Ever since I was introduced to White Cottage, I've found that its wines outperform contemporaries that sell for north of $100 per bottle. At a fraction of the price and an even smaller fraction of the production of trendy California Cabs, I'll take White Cottage any day – especially since the opportunity to try these two White Cottage Cabs won't come up that often. So make sure to enjoy all the majesty Howell Mountain has to offer with this aged duo.

Tasting Notes
2006 White Cottage Napa Howell Mtn Cabernet
The nose on the 2006 alone is worth this duo's price tag. I enjoyed the aromas for nearly 10 minutes before I took my first sip. The palate is truly an explosion of wonderfully clean blackberry and blueberry with classic cassis, spice box and green peppercorns. After the wine had been open only for 15 minutes, the bouquet had developed significantly. Waves of wild mountain blueberry, Italian plum, dark cherry and ripe blackberry rippled through beautiful baking spice and sweet oak. The wine is rich, but the body is balanced by polished tannins that strike a perfect harmony on the finish. Crafted in a Bordeaux-style, the 2006 is drinking beautifully now and will continue to improve in your cellar.

2007 White Cottage Napa Howell Mtn Cabernet
This wine has much of the same character as the 2006 vintage, but the drink-me-now texture I associate with the 2007 vintage makes this wine extremely approachable at the present. The nose is Bing cherry galore with aromas of violet, black currant, hints of cedar and a dusty spice. This structured bottling tantalizes the palate with hints of richness instead of swamping it with oak and fruit. Black cherry, berry and currant flavors, with milder notes of dried herbs, violet, tobacco, licorice and cedar grace the palate, leading to a distinguished finish. This is drinking beautifully now and is one of the best wines I have had this year. The wine will continue to evolve in your cellar for the next three to seven years.

Pair this dynamic duo with a beef Wellington, grilled steak in a Cabernet reduction sauce or even mustard encrusted rack of lamb.

—Punky Mahle

Punky Mahle has more than 15 years of experience in the wine and food industries, most recently with luxury resorts. Before joining Lot18 as a Napa/Sonoma Wine Specialist, Punky was a sommelier with The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the wine director for the Ritz Carlton in Phoenix. Punky currently lives, works and plays in Napa Valley. She’s thrilled to share her backyard with Lot18 members and be able to bring the region’s most exciting wines to the community. Learn more about Punky here, or follow her on Twitter: @punkytime