Pas de Cheval Finale Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 2019

Pas de Cheval’s “Finale” is the pinnacle of the label’s debut wines and is rightfully named as the wine has the enthusiasm and grandeur reminiscent of the cheer-inducing ballads of your favorite musicians. Vintner Vanessa Conlin sought to display the power potential behind Cabernet with this Howell Mountain wine, and she succeeded.

Long before its certification in 1983 as the first sub-AVA of Napa Valley, Howell Mountain was home to grape growers seeking less expensive land. In the 1870s, Jean V. Chaix and Jean Adolf Brun were the first to plant vines and, twenty years later, achieved acclaim for their “Nouveau Me?doc” blend at the Paris World Competition. Sadly, as with many wine regions during the Prohibition era, Howell Mountain wineries shut down, and the area was quiet for decades. It wasn’t until Randy Dunn introduced his Howell Mountain Cabernets to the market in the 80s that everyone’s eyes opened to the “sleeping giant” that hid within these secluded mountain vineyards.

A few things set Howell Mountain apart from its fellow mountain AVAs in Napa. First, it is elevation-specific, and the appellation applies only to vineyards planted above 1,400 feet. This ascent means that when the rest of the valley sits in a layer of fog, the sun shines on Howell Mountain. At the same time, temperatures on Howell Mountain are moderate, with warmer nights and cooler days than the rest of Napa. Soils are an unusual mixture of volcanic ash called “tufa” and red clay loam that provides good drainage but is relatively shallow. It is a battle for Cabernet Sauvignon to grow in this AVA, and the vines produce small clusters of little berries. In juxtaposition, though, those tiny grapes have a higher skin-to-juice ratio, resulting in big wines of rich color and exceptional tannin.

The 2019 Finale is another spectacular 100% Cabernet crafted by Maayan Koschitzky. The 20 months in 70% new French oak set the scaffolding for the already powerful single vineyard fruit sourced from high up in the appellation. The Cabernet is richly hued purple, almost black, and benefits from time to open. After breathing, the nose is ripe with freshly baked blackberry pie, strawberry liqueur, tobacco, dark chocolate, and espresso. Silky tannins masterfully weave through the dense and energetic core, lingering on the finish. Flavors of vanilla, baking spice, violets, and freshly tilled earth overwhelm the palate and will age gracefully and evolve for years to come. In the progression of the 2019 Pas de Cheval Cabernets, Finale befittingly brings the house down with its robust and rich sophistication.