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Martin Ray 2018 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Martin Ray 2018 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

This is chock ’o block with flavors...
Wine Spectator
dryness
acidity
tannin
body
fruit
WS 93
This is chock ’o block with flavors...
Wine Spectator

Mission Codename Howellin' at the moon

Collectors, or anyone who wants real-deal Mountain Cab without spending triple digits - GET IN HERE.

Real deal, big scoring Howell juice from renowned vineyards… at this price (almost half off)?! We simply couldn’t be more amazed if we saw a wild Hornswoggler sneaking around in the backyard.

This glorious bottle sits pretty with all the $80-100+ Cabs from the same hood, and vineyards. You might recognize a few of those high-scoring, rip-roaring examples - Robert Craig’s “The Stick” Cabernet ($150) or Duckhorn’s Howell Mountain Cabernet ($100) comes to mind.

Martin Ray’s legacy goes way back to pioneering one of California’s most famous properties, known as Mount Eden. Today they continue that effort to locate the best sites for their wines. And with 100-point winemaker Keith Emerson at the helm (Melka, Vineyard 29, Robert Craig) the quality is straight-up soaring off the meter. Case in point - this beauty, sourced from the Robert Craig Estate, and Candlestick Ridge Vineyards, both at 2,250-2,300 feet in elevation.

You’re getting a similar pedigree, with all that mountain-powered, high-intensity fruit, for a fraction of the cost. Inky, dark, powerful, and jammed with black, red, and blue fruit of all sorts. Licorice, too, and spicy exotic woods with grippy tannins that beg for some fatty piece of meat to reign them in. Still quite young, so don’t approach all willy-nilly without a proper decant - or better yet, let it rest for a few more years. It will only get better.

We’re still shocked to have any of this, but at this price???

What else can we say, other than it’ll go in a flash, so don’t waste time!

Have a great Labor Day everyone!

93 Points – Wine Spectator

“This is chock ’o block with flavors of dark currant paste and blackberry preserves mixed with tar, licorice snap and alder notes. There’s a nice smoldering feel through the finish as the fruit and earth notes meld. Best from 2023 through 2035.”

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Tasting Profile Dark, powerful, jammed with black, red, and blue fruits

dryness
acidity
tannin
body
fruit
Martin Ray 2018 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml Wine Label
Look

Inky, dark, jet black core, there really is not much of a color to speak of until the bright red rim

Smell

Powerful, and jammed with black, red, and blue fruit of all sorts, cassis, cherries, blueberries and all

Taste

All that mountain-powered, high-intensity fruit, licorice, too, and spicy exotic woods with grippy tannins

Finish

Super long and complex, don’t approach all willy-nilly without a proper decant or let it rest a few more years

Pairing

Begs for some fatty piece of meat, like a juicy medium-rare ribeye, to reign all the unleashed power in

What the Winery Says 2018 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Martin Ray
Martin Ray
Winemaker
Keith Emerson
Vintage
2018
Varietal
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
Vineyards
Robert Craig Estate & Candlestick Ridge Vineyard
Alcohol
14.5%
Brix at Harvest
25.1°
Total acidity
5.6 g/L
pH
3.75
Aging
18 months
Barrels
55% new French oak

About the Winery Martin Ray

Martin Ray Winemaker Keith Emerson
Martin Ray Winemaker Keith Emerson
Martin Ray 2018 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired Dec 28, 2023 at 11:59 pm
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Martin Ray 2018 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml Wine Bottle
Offer Expired Dec 28, 2023 at 11:59 pm
Register to get notified when this wine is back in stock:
Sign Up For Free