The 2016 Howell Mountain Estate Red Blend is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot and 3% Malbec aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with incredibly fragrant red and black currants, crushed black berries and black cherries notes with hints of cigar box, bay leaves, licorice, oyster sauce, yeast extract and chargrill. The palate is full, super concentrated and built like a brick house, offering very firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and savory. This flat-out beauty should be very long lived! (LPB)