Palate
A wolf’s howl is filled with a power and beauty that supports the majesty of the beast itself. The 2010 Lokoya Howell Mountain is a wine that reflects its Howell Mountain origins – a climate that produces wines of immense structure and intense minerality. The wine has a powerful backbone of black fruit, anise and depth of character that will have you feeling the wolf inside with each sip.
Growing Conditions
Along the eastern side of the Napa Valley’s Vaca Range, Howell Mountain peaks at 2,500 feet. Since 1995, Lokoya has crafted a distinguished Cabernet Sauvignon from our estate vineyard on Howell Mountain. Surrounded by redwoods and towering pine trees, our WS Keyes Vineyard personifies the appellation’s cool climate and long growing season, challenging the vines to ripen. At a steep 1,900 feet elevation with a northwest-facing slope, the Lokoya block has soil that boasts a combination of large sandstone rocks, volcanic ash, red clay and conifer bio-matter, lending itself to the density and texture of the wine while revealing an earthy and herbal perfume.
Harvest
Hand-harvested, Low yields of 2 tons per acre.
Bottling
Bottled unfined and unfiltered
Winemaking
Grapes pressed in wooden basket press
Aging
20 months in 100% new French oak barrels