Joe Heitz was incredibly prescient when he planted these 220+ acres high in the northeast corner of Howell Mountain AVA in 1990 and 1991. Their multiplicity of exposures, facing every direction, are incredibly distinct—and are all over 30° slopes, something that cannot be planted anymore in Napa County. This magic will never be duplicated.
What’s more, they were planted in the old school way—via “California Sprawl” (Geneva Double Curtain, Lyre, and Elkhorn), before vertical shoot positioning became de rigueur in the Napa Valley. This means that at Ink Grade, phenolic ripeness and sugar ripeness occur more closely in tandem, making for lively acidity and intense flavors at modest alcohol levels.
This plays right into our hands as adherents of the classical winemaking style in Napa Valley. We aim to make wines that will age decades: time capsules that would not taste out of place had they been on the table at the Judgment of Paris in 1976.
Third Circle Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
A lesson in structure and complexity of tannin, THIRD CIRCLE lies at 1,600-1,800 feet on gentle East-Northeast-facing slopes made up of 100 to 160-million-year-old decomposed volcanic ash and gravelly loams. The quality of Cabernet Sauvignon from this block on our Estate provides us with immense tension, acid, and tannin, while providing darker and more complex combinations of fruit, earth, and vine. The innate complexity in this wine is total gluttony for the alchemist working with this fruit.
Bright boysenberry and red cherry are the theme in this wine, accented by milk chocolate. There’s a richness here—hence the sly Dante allusion—more bass notes than treble, making this wine a kind of indulgence, especially in a warmer vintage.
A lesson in structure and complexity of tannin, THIRD CIRCLE lies at 1,600-1,800 feet on gentle East-Northeast-facing slopes made up of 100 to 160-million-year-old decomposed volcanic ash and gravelly loams. The quality of Cabernet Sauvignon from this block on our Estate provides us with immense tension, acid, and tannin, while providing darker and more complex combinations of fruit, earth, and vine. The innate complexity in this wine is total gluttony for the alchemist working with this fruit.
Bright boysenberry and red cherry are the theme in this wine, accented by milk chocolate. There’s a richness here—hence the sly Dante allusion—more bass notes than treble, making this wine a kind of indulgence, especially in a warmer vintage.
Buddha's Belly Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Tucked away in a hidden corner of our Ink Grade Estate, BUDDHA’S BELLY is a tranquil and coveted Cabernet Sauvignon parcel encircled by ancient manzanita, pine, madrone, & sequoia. One of our steepest East-Northeast-facing terraced blocks, resting at 1,400-1,600 feet, it is comprised of gravelly and stony loam soils formed 100-160 million years prior. Always a later-ripening block that holds distinctive natural acids, the purity, raw tension, and focus this block provides are ‘enlightening.’
This wine features brilliant aromas of tart cherry, plum, bay laurel, menthol, and cocoa powder. “There is a wisdom to this block,” says winemaker Matt Taylor.
Tucked away in a hidden corner of our Ink Grade Estate, BUDDHA’S BELLY is a tranquil and coveted Cabernet Sauvignon parcel encircled by ancient manzanita, pine, madrone, & sequoia. One of our steepest East-Northeast-facing terraced blocks, resting at 1,400-1,600 feet, it is comprised of gravelly and stony loam soils formed 100-160 million years prior. Always a later-ripening block that holds distinctive natural acids, the purity, raw tension, and focus this block provides are ‘enlightening.’
This wine features brilliant aromas of tart cherry, plum, bay laurel, menthol, and cocoa powder. “There is a wisdom to this block,” says winemaker Matt Taylor.
Prophet's Water Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Rising from 1,500-1,900 feet, the red, gravelly-loam, terraced hillside soils of PROPHET’S WATER formed during volcanic activity 3-8 million years prior provide ample tannin and complexity that is singular to Ink Grade Estate. This East-Northeast-facing Cabernet Sauvignon parcel bestows intensely perfumed fruit and incredible structure and nuance—not because of anything we do, but rather by the natural path it has chosen for itself.
Prophet’s Water was Joe Heitz’s favorite block on the mountain. The wine flaunts aromas of deep blackberry fruit, black tea, creosote, elderberry, pennyroyal, cocoa, and incense. It’s floral and complex, offering Ink Grade’s telltale “weight without heaviness.”
Rising from 1,500-1,900 feet, the red, gravelly-loam, terraced hillside soils of PROPHET’S WATER formed during volcanic activity 3-8 million years prior provide ample tannin and complexity that is singular to Ink Grade Estate. This East-Northeast-facing Cabernet Sauvignon parcel bestows intensely perfumed fruit and incredible structure and nuance—not because of anything we do, but rather by the natural path it has chosen for itself.
Prophet’s Water was Joe Heitz’s favorite block on the mountain. The wine flaunts aromas of deep blackberry fruit, black tea, creosote, elderberry, pennyroyal, cocoa, and incense. It’s floral and complex, offering Ink Grade’s telltale “weight without heaviness.”
Lost Clouds Howell Mountain Merlot
Our most delicate of the single parcel bottlings, LOST CLOUDS sits at 1,900-2,250 feet on stony and gravelly loam volcanic soils formed during volcanic activity 3 to 8 million years prior. The East-Northeast-facing vines sit on terraced hillsides above every other parcel growing on our Estate and provide an expression of 100% Merlot unlike any other in the world. This cherished parcel lays amongst the clouds on Howell Mountain and provides a complexity and unnerving tension that is unique among Napa Valley Merlots.
This is issued from the highest-altitude Merlot planted in the Napa Valley, with such high-toned, delicate fruit. More finessed and ethereal than nearly any Pomerol, this wine—and this vineyard—seem permanently ensconced in the clouds passing over Howell Mountain.
Our most delicate of the single parcel bottlings, LOST CLOUDS sits at 1,900-2,250 feet on stony and gravelly loam volcanic soils formed during volcanic activity 3 to 8 million years prior. The East-Northeast-facing vines sit on terraced hillsides above every other parcel growing on our Estate and provide an expression of 100% Merlot unlike any other in the world. This cherished parcel lays amongst the clouds on Howell Mountain and provides a complexity and unnerving tension that is unique among Napa Valley Merlots.
This is issued from the highest-altitude Merlot planted in the Napa Valley, with such high-toned, delicate fruit. More finessed and ethereal than nearly any Pomerol, this wine—and this vineyard—seem permanently ensconced in the clouds passing over Howell Mountain.
Buddha’s Belly
1600 FEET
Gravelly + Stony Loam
East-Northeast Facing
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Prophet’s Water
1900 FEET
Red Gravelly Loam
East-Northeast Facing
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Lost Clouds
2250 FEET
Stony, Gravelly + Clay Loam
Northeast Facing
MERLOT & CABERNET FRANC
3’S Hollow
1600 FEET
Gravelly Loam + Volcanic Ash
Northeast Facing
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Lone Basin
1399 FEET
Gravelly Loam + Volcanic Ash
Northeast Facing
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Third Circle
1800 FEET
Decomposed Volcanic Ash
East-Northeast Facing
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Langoustine
1399 FEET
Gravelly + Stony Loam
East Facing
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
