Given that I liked the 2001 Howell Mountain as much as I did yesterday, I decided to pop this one. Popped and poured, this is a lighter color than the 2001. Medium to dark garnet color. Nose is mellower and less expressive than 2001 but shows black currant, licorice, and some tarry espresso. Really a nicely balanced wine on the palate, maybe even more so than the 2001. Finish is solid, but I do think they could have gone a little easier on the oak, but I think it'll integrate just fine in a few years. What makes this unique is the earthy and charcoal notes I can taste and I think this is even more of a balanced terroir wine than the 2001. LaJota may be the most under-priced and under-appreciated top-notch Cab producer in the Napa Valley. Even for a francophile like myself, this is a must-buy wine.
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