Michael-Scott
2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
, Napa Valley
Howell Mountain
96 Points - Chris Sawyer "Sommelier to the Stars"
This bold and luxurious mountain wine begins with inviting aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
Cellar gracefully for 10+ years, if you can wait that long.
Recognized as one of the Napa Valley's most acclaimed winegrowing regions, Howell Mountain is famous for producing age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon with rich, deep color and excellent structure.
Food Pairings
Grilled Rib Eye Steak · Lamb Sliders · Roast duck with a cherry reduction · Roasted Eggplant · Cheddar cheese · Flourless chocolate cake
Vintage
Up until Labor Day 2022, the weather had been relatively benign. Abundant winter rains at the end of 2021 and the start of 2022 alleviated the three-year drought. Budbreak was early, occurring in mid to late March or early April for most Bordeaux varieties. In fact, May, June, July, and August 2022 were about as smooth sailing as grape growing gets. The heatwave that came in the fall with the up and down temperatures, led producers to decide when to harvest the grapes. Wineries that made quick picking decisions were rewarded with well-balanced wines. The end result for many were a brilliant series of stylish, well-structured Cabernet Sauvignon that are opulent and showy at first, becoming richer and more complex as flavors develop in the glass.
Howell Mountain
One of the first sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA, Howell Mountain rises well above the valley fog. While coastal fog blankets the valley floor, the mountain's weather remains sunny and cool, as it sits at higher elevations, starting at 1,400 feet and reaching 2,300 feet resulting in warmer nights and cooler days compared to the valley floor. Its higher elevation yields nearly twice the rainfall of the valley below, yet the rocky, porous volcanic soil drains well, resulting in drier conditions. Cooler spring temperatures delay bud break, while warm summer nights foster a harmonious balance of acidity and sugar in the fruit. This gradual growth process produces small, concentrated grapes that yield robust, complex yet well-balanced wines. A truly unique combination of factors producing a diverse range of complex flavors in your glass. Overall, the altitude and rocky, dry soil conditions create wines with firm structure, incredible varietal intensity, and excellent aging properties.
Limited Release
This vintage and commemorates the 28th year of the boutique Michael-Scott brand. This limited release is made with ultra-premium fruit grown in the winegrowing region of Howell Mountain in the Napa Valley.
Winemaker: Michael Quinn
Varietals: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot
Appellation: Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
Vintage: 2022
Alcohol: 15.3%
This year marks the 28th year of Michael-Scott Wines, a boutique Napa-based brand founded by Michael Quinn in 1996. Along the way, Quinn’s devotion to crafting world class wines have earned the respect of critics, sommeliers, retailers, and a long string of top medals at high-profile wine competitions. The secret of their success starts with working with high-quality grapes and paying close attention to detail during the fruit’s transformative journey from the vine to the bottle.
Founded in 1996, Michael Quinn created a boutique winery located on the westside of the town of Napa, specializing in select small lots of mostly Napa/Sonoma Zinfandels and Napa Cabernet from fruit grown with sustainable and eco-friendly techniques. His award winning wines can be found in some of the top restaurants and wine shops in the country.
The production lots for MICHAEL-SCOTT WINERY are small (typically 400-600 cases of each) compared to what most commercial brands produce. While the Brown's Valley property located just to the west of the town of Napa is bonded, they produce our wines at Artesa Winery, in the Carneros Region, only a few miles from the Brown's Valley property. Total production is under 1,500 Cases.
Michael Quinn, Sr., a Napa native, began his career in Viticulture, at a young age in 1975 with Charles Krug / Mondavi Family. Five years later he was Vineyard Manager of the historic Stanly Ranch in the early 80’s growing Pinot Noir for Beaulieu Vineyards and Domaine Chandon. From there Michael moved into the sales and marketing side of the business with a fine wine distributor in Northern California. After that he consulted and handled national sales for a number of smaller Northern California wineries. In 1996, Michael-Scott became a reality. Michael, the sole owner, is mostly involved in the day to day operations with an emphasis on Production, National Sales and Marketing. Being a small winery Michael is required to a number of different hats each day to produce the fines wines from carefully selected fruit sources.
Learn more at www.michaelscottwines.net
