Aloft is a Howell Mountain estate with a notable pedigree. Its founder is Marc Mondavi, son of Peter Mondavi, the long-time patriarch of Charles Krug. The late Robert Mondavi was Marc’s uncle. Marc still runs Charles Krug with his brother Peter Jr. But in 2004 Marc bought a 60-acre parcel off of Cold Springs Road in Angwin, convinced that the 1,660-foot vineyards and terroir were ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon. He hired veteran vineyard manager Jim Barbour to tend to the 21-acres of vineyards, and he hired Thomas Rivers Brown – a Napa Valley winemaking star – to make the wine. The debut release was the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate makes just one wine, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.