This Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend (91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec) was aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak and crafted from organically farmed grapes. The wine opens with a super fragrant nose of loamy earth, rich cassis, and spiced plums, accented by black cherry, espresso bean notes, and hints of violet and crème de cassis. Medium- to full-bodied, it offers nuanced, mineral-rich tannins that beautifully frame its depth and precision. The balance between fruit, earth, and oak is exceptional, delivering a layered and harmonious wine. This lovely and approachable wine is ideal for immediate enjoyment while your 2021 and 2019 vintages continue to slumber in the cellar. Its elegance, structure, and refined complexity make it a standout. (JC)

A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, and 3% Malbec, all aged 22 months in 100% new French oak, the 2022 Estate Red from Arkenstone is classic in every way, delivering ripe red and black fruits, new leather, floral nuances, and hints of loamy earth. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and incredibly complete, with ripe tannins and impeccable integration, it’s a stunning, classically styled wine built for the long haul.

Arkenstone's 2022 Howell Mountain Estate Red Blend—a Bordeaux-style blend led by Cabernet Sauvignon but with small proportions of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot—features some rather assertive barrel-char scents, plus pine needles, cherries and dusty earth notes. It's full-bodied, rich and approachable but structured, with varied layers of texture. Like some of the other 2022s from Arkenstone, it might finish just a little warm to some palates, but it remains long and remarkably elegant. (JC)