Moone Tsai Blend
In keeping with what Howell Mountain is known-for, this vintage of our storied Hillside Blend extends its introduction to feature a direct attack marked by blackberry, morello cherries, black pepper, and hints of just-opened cigar box. Aged 18 months in 30% new French Oak, the wine’s medium+ acidity, and grainy tannins combine to present a notable structure and lingering finish. Direct at the outset, the wine unfolds to reveal itself as matter-of-fact and a bit “old-school”;… that with additional cellaring will evolve into a distinctive, classic mountain red blend marked by character, grit, and gravitas. Saluting this wine with a comparison to some of the most memorable performances by Hollywood legend, Clint Eastwood; one recalls this iconic actor’s acclaimed roles as outlaw Josey Wales, Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Highway, and the inimitable detective Harry Callahan. If patience comes easily, we believe that you will be rewarded in 9-12 months…when you summon this wine to “…make my day”.
The grapes that made this wine were grown in an east-facing hillside Howell Mountain vineyard perched 2100 feet above the Napa Valley floor, located just outside the Rancho. The terraced vineyard is planted on an extreme slope, producing thick-skinned clusters capable of creating a wine with intensity, structure, elegance, and weight.
In a season marked by copious rainfall, and a long warm summer, the stage was set for the 2019 vintage’s remarkable wines. Abundant hang-time teased out great color, structure and tannins yielding exceptional fruit with bright acidity and ample texture.
Deeply ruby/garnet in hue, the wine reveals an exuberant nose, inviting inspection with a decolletage of ripe black fruits, lavender, and spice. The wine’s attack does not demur, allowing the wine’s Hillside bearing to stand and deliver its Howell Mountain credo. Teeming with vibrant energy, this remarkable blend is striking and sexy, and displays a marvelous mélange of blackberry, morello cherries, and blackcurrant cordial, further accented by hints of olive tapenade, and earth. Aged 18-months in 60% NFO, the wine’s structure is marked by grainy tannins and a bright acidity, leading to a finish that resounds with a pleasing minerality and sensual completeness. Focused, feisty, and fascinating, one cannot help but be reminded of the brilliant and formidable Rita Moreno (West Side Story-1961, and 2022) whose transcendent talents on the screen and stage affirm her place as one of the (16) most talented performers to have earned the elusive EGOT quartet, i.e., count ‘em all (!): Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.
The grapes that made this wine were grown in an east-facing hillside Howell Mountain vineyard perched 2100 feet above the Napa Valley floor, located just outside the Rancho. The terraced vineyard is planted on an extreme slope, producing thick-skinned clusters capable of creating a wine with intensity, structure, elegance, and weight.
