Alcohol: 14%
Grape(s): 88.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.6% Merlot
Location: Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA
Tasting Notes: The Ink Grade Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a nose of fresh cassis, pomegranate, and cocoa with elements of thyme, mint, candied orange peels, nutmeg, cloves, and paprika. The palate is linear throughout with a consistent midpalate of bright and lifted acidity and well-integrated raw mountain tannins that close in a persistent finish.
94 points James Suckling: So much pine needle, flowers, currants and ripe plums on the nose. Medium-bodied with fine and polished tannins. Linear and very tight with a clarity and energy. Vivid is the word. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.
Notes: Owned by Heitz Cellars.
The vinification of Ink Grade Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon involves a two-stage aging process that enhances its complexity and structure. During the initial nine months, 60% of the grapes were aged in new French oak barrels, while the remaining 40% matured in large oak tanks. This was followed by an extended aging period of 26 months, during which 80% of the wine rested in French oak barrels—60% of them new—and 20% in neutral oak barrels. This careful balance of oak treatments contributes to the wine’s depth, texture, and refined character.
Food pairing: Ink Grade Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon pairs exceptionally well with a variety of rich and savory dishes. Grilled ribeye or lamb chops benefit from the wine’s bold fruit and firm tannins, which stand up to the charred intensity of the meat. Braised short ribs or beef stew are elevated by the wine’s earthy depth and spice, making slow-cooked flavors even more satisfying. For a vegetarian option, portobello mushrooms or lentil loaf offer umami-rich profiles that harmonize with the wine’s complexity. Aged cheeses like Manchego or Gouda, with their nutty and savory character, round out the pairing beautifully.
Winery Story: Ink Grade, Howell Mountain’s first monopole estate, produces the appellation’s greatest classical wines. The estate vineyard was first planted with vines in the 1870s by visionary pioneer, Theron Ink. Farmed organically and biodynamically since its inception and spanning eight hundred wild acres, our Estate is dotted with vine plantings that nurture and respect the natural habitat. Among the steeply terraced vineyards that cling to the iron-rich volcanic soils, there is a wild purity and raw tension here that awakens the senses. Winemaker Matt Taylor, formerly of Araujo Estate and Domaine Dujac, captures this untamed nature and preserves it by producing elegant, single-estate wines that express the pristine mountain fruit and legacy of the land. To do so requires patience and presence, taking the time to listen to what a place has to say and what it will give. This is an art. This is Ink Grade.
