Kennedy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 2018

Operating in the world of luxury goods takes a keen eye for detail, appreciation for high quality, and patience for the superiority of diligent, handmade craftsmanship.  Whether speaking of the couture fashion houses in Paris, the meticulous watchmakers of Switzerland, or designers of Italy’s finest sports automobiles, these principles are the common thread.  Making a terroir-driven Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley is one such craftsmanship that centers around detail, persistence, and unwavering commitment to quality. 

The link between winemaking and luxury product is not lost on Johnathon Sipos, the vintner behind Kennedy Cellars (his middle name.)  After decades in luxury real estate development, he has come to understand what distinguishes good from great.  This ability extended to his consumption of wine, eventual education, and personal discernment that Napa Valley’s Cabernets stood above the rest.  And so Johnathon began to pursue developing a wine brand that holds steadfast to standards of quality and care that rivals the crème de la crème of Napa cult wines without commanding the same steep prices.

2018 was the first vintage for Kennedy Cellars, but the project started years before.  Johnathon traveled to Napa from Vancouver continuously during the label’s development, interviewing winemakers and visiting potential vineyard sources.  All the while earning his WSET III certification to ensure his knowledge grew with a hands-on approach.  Mentorships formed over the years with Oscar Renteria and Mark Neal, who guided Johnathon in selecting his winemaker, Toshi Wakayama. Toshi’s twenty years in Napa Valley and stylistic approach to Cabernet made him the perfect match for Kennedy Cellars.  Having apprenticed under Napa Valley heavy hitters like Philippe Melka and Kirk Venge, Toshi brings a deep familiarity with the terroir and a personal style shaped by some of the best.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain is sourced from 30-year-old vines grown on both steep volcanic and shallow red clay soils. The wine is aged in 100% new French oak, and aged for a hefty 28 months. The wine is elegant, balanced, and beautifully perfumed - Howell Mountain at its finest! Vibrant red cherry with a gravelly blueberry undertone, this wine has gentle, fine-grained tannins with the perfect amount of acidity that lingers for a never-ending finish.