2019 Lokoya Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Coming all from the from the Keyes Vineyard on Howell Mountain, the 2019 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) was brought up in 91% new French oak. Incredible crème de cassis, chalky minerality, iron, spring flowers, and black olive tapenade all define the nose, and It's full-bodied on the palate, with building tannins, integrated oak, wonderful sweetness of fruit, and a great, great finish. It opens up beautifully with time in the glass, and while it has classic Mountain structure and concentration, it also has a wealth of fruit and texture, and unquestionably offers pleasure even today. Nevertheless, do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years if you can. It's a 30- to 40-year wine. (JD)

100 points jebdunnuck.com

Incredibly rich and opulent. Sumptuous aromas of ripe cassis, boysenberry, blackberry and mountain herbs. The incredibly vivid dark berry fruit – deep and penetrating – is accompanied by a tapestry of granular mountain tannins that are long and laced with a saline minerality. The finish reveals a plethora of pie spices, blueberry compote, chocolate and very fine oak. A powerhouse Cabernet that is pleasure-packed.

98 points decanter.com

Sourced from two blocks of the Keyes Vineyard at La Jota, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain shows more caramel, barrel toast and mocha notes, derived from the choice of Demptos as the cooper. Cassis and blueberry flesh out the flavor profile of this full-bodied, rich, velvety effort. Mouth-filling and plush, it's broad and expansive in the mouth, finishing long and intricately textured.

97 points robertparker.com

The purple fruit is prevailing, together with conifer, lead-pencil and ink-pot aromas, following through to a full body with layered, ripe tannins and lightly toasted oak at the finish. Give it three to four years to come around. Try after 2025.

96 points jamessuckling.com

In 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is entirely from W.S. Keyes ranch. A huge, statuesque wine, the 2019 possesses tremendous intensity right out of the gate. Inky dark fruit, gravel, menthol, licorice and spice build in an opulent, dramatic Cabernet that hits all the right notes. This is such a classic expression of Howell Mountain.

97 points vinous.com

High above the valley floor on the rugged volcanic slopes of Howell Mountain, Lokoya crafts Cabernet Sauvignon that captures Napa at its most intense and mountain sculpted. Founded in the 1990s as part of the Jackson Family portfolio, Lokoya focuses exclusively on single mountain appellations, working with low yielding vineyards where elevation, rocky soils and cooler nights shape wines of formidable structure and purity. Howell Mountain is renowned for producing Cabernet with dark fruit power, firm tannins and a distinctive mineral edge that rewards long cellaring.

An inky garnet purple core announces the wine’s depth and concentration. Aromas unfold with layers of blackcurrant, blackberry and boysenberry intertwined with graphite, crushed rock, cedar and subtle hints of violets and dark cocoa. There is a wild mountain intensity to the perfume, balanced by precision and clarity.

The palate is full bodied and commanding, delivering dense cassis and black plum fruit framed by powerful yet finely grained tannins and vibrant acidity. Notes of espresso, tobacco leaf and savoury spice build through the mid palate, leading to an exceptionally long, structured finish that feels both muscular and elegant. Built for serious cellaring, this Cabernet Sauvignon will evolve magnificently over twenty to thirty years, developing layers of leather, truffle and complex earthy nuance.

A natural partner for richly flavoured cuisine, it shines with chargrilled ribeye, slow roasted lamb shoulder, venison loin or aged hard cheeses. Lokoya Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon captures the dramatic spirit of Napa’s mountain terroir, perfect for milestone celebrations, fireside evenings and those moments when a truly monumental wine defines the experience.