2019 Ink Grade Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Regular price $79.98

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The estate is named after pioneer Theron H. Ink, who acquired the land and first planted grapevines on the mountain over 150 years ago. He even built Ink Grade Road to haul wagonloads of grapes down the steep slopes by horse and cart.

The estate is now helmed by acclaimed winemaker Matt Taylor, who trained at legendary properties like Araujo Eisele Vineyard and Burgundy's Domaine Dujac. Taylor practices minimal-intervention winemaking, utilizing native yeasts and restrained oak to let the mountain's natural characteristics—such as wild sage, bay laurel, and flinty volcanic minerals—shine through cleanly without heavy extraction or excessive alcohol.

Vines sit at high elevations ranging from 700 to 2,400 feet. Because the vineyard features multiple angles and exposures facing every direction on steep terraces, it captures a raw tension and structural power that cannot be replicated under modern Napa planting laws.

Beyond world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the high-altitude volcanic soils are uniquely planted with unexpected varieties for Howell Mountain, including ancient-clone Zinfandel, Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvèdre.

The 2019 Ink Grade Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a highly acclaimed, biodynamically grown mountain wine from the northeast corner of the Howell Mountain AVA. It features vibrant aromas of fresh cassis, pomegranate, and cocoa, layered with notes of mint, wild sage, and crushed herbs. The palate displays bright, lifted acidity, well-integrated raw mountain tannins, and a persistent mineral underpinning.

94 James Suckling - So much pine needle, flowers, currants and ripe plums on the nose. Medium-bodied with fine and polished tannins. Linear and very tight with a clarity and energy. Vivid is the word. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.

93 Wine Enthusiast - This classic style of Cabernet shows great balance, a snug structure and complex flavors that range from black cherry to black olive to sage and cedar. Moderate tannins and good acidity add to a slightly grippy and appetizing texture.

92 Wine Spectator - Expressive, with bramble and black licorice notes leading off, followed quickly by fresh black cherry and currant preserves. Features flashes of bay leaf and mesquite on the sleek finish, with a strong mineral underpinning as well.

91 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - Marked by black cherries and cassis aromas, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a fairly muscular effort—not that it's big or bulky, but it shows plenty of tannic depth and a crisply acidic spine. It should be capable of aging well, even if it's not hugely pleasurable at this particular instant. It's 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot aged in a mix of oak tanks and barrels.

Shipping Policy

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Unless your delivery address is on the West Coast, we strongly discourage you from selecting “Ground Service” as your shipping method. During the winter and summer months, weather conditions (temperature) and longer delivery times can often result in the spoilage of your order. It doesn’t make sense to invest in fine wines and then take the chance of ruining them due environmental factors during transit (faster and safer delivery generally isn’t much more expensive). We don’t make an additional profit on accelerated delivery, but we frequently recommend faster shipping options to our customers outside the West Coast.
You must be 21 years of age to order or receive alcoholic beverages. Any shipments containing alcoholic beverages are sent with an “Adult Signature Required” sticker, and the common carrier that delivers our merchandise is required to ask and check for identification upon delivery. This means that an adult will have to be present at the time of delivery. Please consider shipping to an office address.
During periods of extreme weather, we attempt to ship wines at the beginning of each week in order to get shipments to you before the weekend. This is because we have no control over the temperature conditions at our freight carriers’ warehouses. The result may be that your shipment doesn’t go out the day that you place an order.
We ship by Fedex or Fedex Ground. Our prices include packaging materials. Insurance may be available for an additional charge.
Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. will arrange for shipment on behalf of the buyer, to an address specified by the buyer, provided that Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. in its sole judgment believes that such shipment will not subject Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. to the risk of any sort of legal action or other harm. If a buyer lives in a state where the direct shipment of wine by Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. violates the law, we suggest that the buyer provide an alternative address in another state or have their wine shipped to a third-party storage facility in a direct shipping-friendly state.
Various states impose limitations on the quantity of alcoholic beverages that may be purchased and brought into their jurisdiction by a purchaser from another state without requiring the purchaser, a seller or shipper to possess certain licenses or permits. Vintage Wine Merchants, Inc. does not, as a condition of sale, assume any obligation nor bear any responsibility whatsoever for applying or obtaining any permits or licenses. Therefore, we recommend that you investigate the possibility of such limitations, and determine the manner in which alcoholic beverages shall be brought into your state from California, so as to comply with all of your state’s requirements.
Wine shipping rules in the United States are controlled by the state you live in. We do not ship wine to the following states at this time: