Highlands 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Highlands Winery uses Howell Mountain Cabernet as the basis for their Napa Valley Cabernet. Our WineHeist customers already know about our enthusiasm for mountain grown Cabernet, with its structure and tannin, and Howell Mountain was one of the earliest high altitude areas to have viticultural success, with award winning wines dating back to the 19th Century. Today’s offering shows a great balance between the extremes of mountain and valley cabernet, with a lovely combination of mountain toughness and valley lushness.
Deep ruby in color, the 2006 Highlands Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has a classically elegant Cabernet nose of violets, crème de cassis and white pepper. The palate is floral as well, with hints of violets, lots of fresh Bing cherry, and Cab’s signature touch of green pepper. Howell Mountain is known for higher acid wines, thanks to cooler average temperatures, and this wine is no exception. As is often the case, this acidity helps lengthen the finish, giving this wine nice persistence.
Mountain vineyards are always difficult to farm, and when those vineyards are planted to Cabernet, and located in Napa, you know that production costs are incredibly high, which is why it is so hard to find good mountain Cab from Napa at a reasonable price. We are thrilled to have been able to snag some Highlands Cabernet at a great discount that we can pass on to our customers; don’t miss out on the chance to taste one of California’s most unique styles of wine, at a great price!
Tasting Notes 
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Napa Valley embraces all its vintners and growers. Paul Segas and Dave Cofran, Highlands Winery’s proprietors have roots that extend to the Seventies when being a vintner was extremely risky and not a sure thing. Paul Segas’ and Dave Cofran’s heritage in the Napa Valley extend far beyond their experience as they are considered pioneers in the Napa Valley viticulture and viniculture community.
Dave Cofran worked in the valley as an enologist and winemaker, starting in 1967. In 1984, he joined old classmate Justin Meyer as General Manager of the famed Silver Oak Cellars, to this day, one of the premier Napa Valley wineries. Dave remembers the early days of Silver Oak when the winery was literally in an old cow barn.
At first, Silver Oak farmed primarily on flat land but as time went on, the winery discovered the value of higher altitude vineyards. This affinity for the hills influenced Dave’s desire to base Highland’s wines around Howell Mountain’s fruit. As a matter of fact, the fruit from the Black Sears vineyard used in the Highlands Cabernet is harvested from the highest altitude of any vineyard in the Napa Valley. In addition the vineyard is farmed organically and the wines produced from Black-Sears vineyard are truly organic.The cool night on Howell Mountain give our grapes it unique character. The grapes “bud out” late and are slower to develop. This late ripening grape has superior hang time which then produces exquisite flavors.Think back to where you were in 1967 when Dave started in the wine business, that accumulated knowledge, experience, and judgment can be tasted in every glass of Highlands Winery wines.
Paul Segas another Napa Valley pioneer from the Seventies has over 33 years of grape-growing history in his portfolio. In 1973, Paul, an executive with IBM in San Francisco, saw an opportunity in the wine business he wanted to pursue. With absolutely no experience, he acquired vineyard property in both Sonoma and Napa.
In a short time, his grapes became a much sought-after commodity for such brands as Chateau Montelena, Bouchaine, Pine Ridge, Robert Mondavi, Joseph Phelps, Domaine Chandon and Mumm Napa Valley, to name just a few.In the course of these relationships, Paul had the privilege to work with the founders of these great brands, and was amazed that they would share so much knowledge with him. Much of this knowledge would be considered “trade secrets” in other businesses.
Combined, Paul and Dave have over 70 years of grape growing and wine making experience! Every bottle of Highland’s wines shine with this experience.
Learn more at www.highlandswinery.com.
