“Another 2016 that shines for its elegance and finesse just as much as for its power and richness.” – Jeb Dunnuck

And we’re in 2026. Which is why this costs $230 a bottle from the winery library.

Wait, did you expect to pay less than $50 after almost 80% off for a 10-year-old 96-pointer Howell Mountain Cab made by Aaron Pott?! If your answer is YES, you’re in the right place at the right time.

The Tasting Panel has the backgrounder: “While on a trip to Napa in 2006, Patrick met and tasted with winemaker Aaron Pott before serendipitously discovering the property that would soon be the home of her estate vineyard. She purchased the Howell Mountain site that she would name Somnium in 2009, where the first vines were planted in 2011, and brought Pott on board.”

The vineyard defines the recently established Crystal Springs zone, as it lies between Bremer Family and Arkenstone, neighboring Seven Stones, Zakin Estate, and Burgess’ Sorensen Vineyard, among others. Pott is a huge reason for their success. Per Forbes, “In the world of winemaking, where passion meets precision, few names carry as much weight as Aaron Pott.” Known for his plush, sumptuous, expressive wines made under Greer, Seven Stones, Blackbird, and his own, he’s one of the best in the game.

Jeb Dunnuck calls 2016 “an incredibly beautiful, classic year for Napa Valley, which produced an enormous amount of high-quality wines. The best 2016s shine for their purity of fruit, ripe, polished tannins, and impeccable balance. In addition, the wines speak clearly of their origins and have singular characters… I’ll spare you the self-righteous pontification and amateurish storytelling that saturates wine criticism today and leave you with this: If you like Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends from Napa Valley, you should buy 2016.”

Heard that, Ops?

Retired race car professional and fitness influencer, Danica Patrick is a force to be reckoned with. She is a dreamer and a doer, no doubt. After falling in love with Napa Valley and wine, she purchased a small property hidden in the switchbacks of the Vaca Mountains below Howell Mountain, which is now a part of Napa’s hottest and newest AVA, Crystal Springs. The 22-acre property is truly a dream, thus the dreamy name ‘Somnium.’ Managed by some of the best in the industry, the property boasts Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Verdot and a CCOF organic certification. This area is known for rustic mountainous terrain, which equates to intense and well-structured wines.

This classically styled Howell beauty offers blackberry compote, bay leaf, wild herbs, espresso, bitter chocolate, and cigar tobacco. Insistent swirling brings out boysenberry, graphite, vanilla, and espresso. With a solid acidity backbone on the impressively big and bold palate, black fruits, mocha, and grippy tannins lead to a supple finish with lavender and subtle notes of saddle leather.

Time in the decanter brings out more of that red-toned fruit character, with strong mineral and floral overtones. Red cherries and purple plums, blood orange, cedar, cocoa, and sage take shape with some coaxing. There’s plenty of supporting mountain tannin, but it is beautifully woven into the wine’s fabric. The benefits of age are just starting to get obvious, with plenty of intensity to continue its trajectory of glorious development for at least another decade. Yet it’s so hard to resist today!

Speaking of, - this WILL sell out fast - don’t want regrets if you resist.

96 Points – The Tasting Panel “From Patrick’s 24-acre estate on Howell Mountain, this wine, aged 20 months in French oak, offers aromas of rich and vivacious blue fruit accompanied by a perfume of lavender, orange rind, and dark-chocolate mint. Dusty cocoa tannins and deep, tarry slate run laps on the palate alongside blackberry syrup and blue floral tones. Dark fudge is grainy on the finish line.”

94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “Coming from a high elevation site on Howell Mountain, the deep purple-colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is another 2016 that shines for its elegance and finesse just as much as for its power and richness. Offering up beautiful mountain notes of blueberries, pine forest floor, bay leaf, and damp earth, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a beautifully seamless, layered texture, no hard edges, and a great finish. Drink 2019-2039.”

94 Points – Wine Advocate “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep purple-black in color and intensely scented of mocha, sautéed herbs and cigar box with a core of crème de cassis, chocolate-covered cherries and dried mulberries. Full-bodied, rich and decadent, it has loads of savory and black fruit preserves layers matched by a firm, chewy texture and long, expressive finish. Drink 2019-2034.”