2018 Beringer - Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Steinhauer Ranch Vineyard (750ml)

Beringer Vineyards was established in 1876 by brothers Jacob and Frederick Beringer, making it one of Napa Valley's oldest continuously operating wineries. Beringer built its reputation on a portfolio of single vineyard mountain wines that showcase the diversity of Napa's terroir, and it has held onto some of the valley's most storied properties over the decades. The winery's Howell Mountain lineup represents its highest tier of estate expressions, drawing on fruit farmed at elevation for wines of exceptional depth and character.

Steinhauer Ranch was originally known as the Tre Colline Vineyard before it was renamed in 2003 to honor longtime Beringer viticulturist Bob Steinhauer. Planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon at roughly 1,800 feet on Howell Mountain, the vineyard benefits from the volcanic soils and above the fog line exposure that define the appellation, conditions that push vines to struggle and concentrate flavor in the fruit. The 2018 wine spent close to twenty months in French oak, giving it time to soften and integrate before release.

This vintage shows notes of plum, black currant, and dark chocolate alongside iron, grilled herb, menthol, and licorice, all wrapped in a plush, medium to full bodied frame. Tannins are ripe and well structured, with a long, gravelly finish that speaks to its mountain origin. It pairs beautifully with grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, or a rich mushroom stew.