2019 La Jota Howell Mountain Merlot
Producer: Captûre
Region: Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, CA
Country: USA
Grapes: 81.5% Merlot, 11.5% Petit Verdot, 7% Tannat
Vintage: 2019
ABV: 14.5%
Vivino: 4.4
Drink By: 2034
Occasional Wine Note: This Merlot seems to highlight more savory, earthy and herbacious tones than the more fruit forward options you'll produced elsewhere in the region. The fruit is still there, but in a more complimentary role than normal. In the end, it all comes together to delivery a unique, but delicious Merlot absolutely worthy of the noteworthy critic scores.
James Suckling
Critic Score: 95
Lots of black olives with some conifer and mushrooms. Raspberries, too. Full-bodied with soft and round tannins. Really savory. Juicy. Drink now.
Wine Spectator
Score: 94
Refined and polished yet deeply structured, with expressive red currant, dried herbs and hints of stony minerality that build tension and richness toward big but polished tannins. Drink now through 2030.