2021 HALL Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
Critic Review
"...scents of black cherries, bay leaf, sage and mocha on the nose. It follows the winery's full-bodied approach, but it isn't as big or rich as the Howell Mountain bottling. Streamlined and velvety, with a long, lingering finish, it showcases dark fruit and subtle herb shadings to great effect."
92 Points | Wine Spectator, James Molesworth
"Atypical for a mountain AVA Cab, this splays out enticingly as its plum and blackberry puree flavors glide through, coated lightly with melted licorice and warmed vanilla hints that all carry through the rounded and generous finish.
96-98 Points | Jeb Dunnuck
"I loved the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder, which has a terrific sense of balance and completeness that makes it remarkably compelling. Blackcurrants, blueberries, sage, wild herbs, and graphite are just some of its nuances, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with ultra-fine yet building tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. This complex, nuanced, layered 2021 is going to benefit from just 3-4 years of bottle age and evolve for well over two decades.
94-96 Points (barrel score) | The Wine Independent, Lisa Perotti-Brown
"The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder was tasted as a barrel sample. Deep garnet-purple in color, it sings of freshly crushed black cherries, blackcurrant jelly, and mulberries with suggestions of cedar chest, black olives, and violets. The full-bodied palate is bursting with perfumed black fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note."
2021 Mt. Veeder opens with effusive aromas of ripe, dark plum underscored by a hint of grilled fennel and forest floor. Dark fruit notes carry through onto the palate, and are accompanied by flavors of black olive and freshly turned earth. The palate is full and mouth-coating, and boasts layered, opulent tannin that leads into a focused and extremely lengthy finish. This wine is drinking beautifully now and will continue to evolve over the next 15-20 years.
Dark Plum
Grilled Fennel
Dark Fruit
Black Olive
Created by uplift from seismic activity and movement of tectonic plates some 12 million years ago, Mount Veeder is derived from ancient sea beds. These sedimentary soils are infused with the decayed remnants of the forests native to the area, which leads to a distinctively dark berry and exotic, wild mountain character. Because of the rugged, steep terrain of this mountain appellation, the yields are inherently miniscule, with tiny berries bursting with concentrated and densely tannic structures.
| Bottle Size | 750mL |
|---|---|
| Varietal Composition | 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot |
| Barrel Aging | 26 Months in 75% New French Oak |
| Appellation | Napa Valley |
| Vineyard | Beller Estate Vineyard and Grower Partners |
| Vintage Notes | The alluring 2021 vintage is notable for its low yields, which resulted in an extra degree of concentration in our wines. In a second year of severe drought, the vines grew quickly in the warm spring weather while our team carefully managed irrigation block by block. By summer, the vines had set a lighter than average crop, and cooler weather in August allowed time for multiple vineyard passes to finetune the fruit load and manage the canopy. After a smooth harvest season, we are excited about the beautifully balanced, flavor-packed 2021's. |
