2003 Black Sears Winery Howell Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Black Sears Winery is a Howell Mountain estate located at 2,400 feet above sea level, making it the highest vineyard on the mountain. The 24-acre vineyard is owned by the Sears family. Joyce and Jerre Sears bought the property in 1979 and spent the next 25 years making wine with winemaker Ted Lemon. Their labels were Howell Mountain Vineyards and Black Sears. In 2004 they sold the Howell Mountain Vineyard label but in 2008 their daughter Ashley Sears and her fiancée Chris Jambois moved to the estate to revive the family winemaking venture. Thomas Brown is winemaker at the new enterprise. Black Sears produces Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

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.