The 2012 Maya is fabulous. Deep and explosive, the 2012 remains quite young. Black cherry, chocolate, espresso, licorice and gravel, along with the wine's natural concentration, convey and impression of virile intensity. As good as the 2012 is today, another few years in bottle certainly will not hurt. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 6 months ago
The 2013 Quella is fabulous. Bright, racy and vibrant, the 2013 is just magnificent. There's plenty of tannin and structure, but it’s all woven so well into the wine's frame. Crushed rose petals, spice, mint, new leather and cedar build into the dense, resonant finish. The 2013 has blossomed into a truly exceptional wine. Superb. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 6 months ago
The 2012 Insignia is in great shape today. Bright acids lend tremendous energy to a mid-weight Insignia that is more about finesse rather than power. Sweet red-fleshed fruit, cedar, tobacco, mint and rose petal are all beautifully delineated. There's not much left to say. The 2012 offers tons of pure pleasure. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 6 months ago
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Trailer is a young wine that has a bit more mid-palate juiciness, texture and sweetness than the Howell Mountain Cabernet. Dark red fruit, blood orange, rose petals, and spice abound. This is a powerful, inky and explosive wine. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 6 months ago
The 2013 IX Estate is a wild, exotic wine. In a sense, it marries the savory aromatic intensity of the Tychson Hill with the fruit richness found in the Cariad. It is another wine that has aged impeccably. There's plenty of mountain tannin and savoriness, along with the underlying structure to age well for many years to come. In a word: magnificent! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 6 months ago
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is dark, supple and super-expressive. It shows higher ripeness and a stronger oak imprint than the Cabernet Sauvignon. Even so, it has aged very well. Dark plum, espresso, licorice, sweet spice and a kiss of toasted French oak lend notable complexity throughout. In this tasting, ripeness and new oak feel accented, certainly more so than when this wine was younger. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 6 months ago
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard is fabulous. At age ten, it remains quite youthful. Black cherry, gravel, menthol, licorice and spices all run through this potent Howell Mountain Cabernet. All the elements are so well balanced. The 2012 is a seriously beautiful wine, as it always has been. What a knockout! It is the clear standout in this tasting, but it is definitely a wine for readers who appreciate mountain structure and intensity. What a wine! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 6 months ago
The 2012 Cappella is classy, elegant and wonderfully expressive. Just starting to open, the 2012 offers up a beguiling mix of dark fruit, cinnamon, blood orange, mocha and new leather. Plush contours add to its immediacy and overall appeal. What a gorgeous wine it is. As is typically the case, the Cappella is the most sensual and alluring wine in the range. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 6 months ago
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The 2012 Opus One is a terrific choice for drinking now. Silky and beautifully perfumed, the 2012 is wonderfully open-knit in this tasting. The purity of the fruit is alluring, There's still a good bit of freshness, too. Naturally, the 2012 reflects the medium-bodied style that is typical of the year, but all the elements are very nicely balanced. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, rose petal, spice and blood orange linger. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2024)
— 6 months ago