2016 Bevan Cellars Sentinel Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Bevan Cellars is a boutique winery in Santa Rosa, California, which uses grapes from vineyards in Oakville's Bennett Valley. The winery is owned by Russell Bevan and Victoria De Crescenzo, who met in Des Moines, moved to Minneapolis and eventually decided to give up their jobs in the dental industry to return to Napa Valley, where Russell had grown up. The couple started with a few grapevines planted in their front yard and now contract for grapes in the choice Showket Vineyard of Oakville and the Dry Stack Vineyard in Bennett Valley, in northern Sonoma Valley. Their first vintage was 2004. Bevan Cellar’s signature wines are the Cabernet Sauvignons, though they have also produced Syrah, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. Robert M. Parker has been highly complimentary: “A small artisanal operation in Santa Rosa…Bevan Cellars has assembled a stunning line-up of wines….I can’t recommend this up-and-coming producer’s wines highly enough.”

Howell Mountain AVA in Northeastern Napa Valley was the first of Napa Valley’s sub-appellations, earning its own designation in 1984, just a year after Napa Valley became an appellation. As the name suggests, the AVA is in one of the highest elevations in the area. Every vineyard in the appellation is at least 1,400 feet above sea level. Some vineyards are as high as 2,200 feet and because of their altitude most of the AVA’s vineyards receive more sun than vineyards at lower elevations, which are affected by fog from the Pacific Ocean and the San Pablo Bay. Howell Mountain was home to vineyards in the late 19th century, but winemaker Randy Dunn is considered the area’s most influential modern pioneer. Dunn moved to Howell Mountain in 1979, acquired property and began making exceptionally rich Cabernet Sauvignon. The AVA also grows Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. There are 600 vineyard acres within Howell Mountain AVA.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.