CADE RESERVE HOWELL MOUNTAIN
NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 2021
WHY BUY: This 99-point Reserve Cabernet from PlumpJack’s CADE Estate — with fruit from the revered Howell Mountain, and from a superb 2021 Napa vintage — is a Cab to lust over. Intense, concentrated, richly textured, full of drive and persistence, and seemingly endless in its length … this one's got it all! A massive triumph for winemaker Danielle Cyrot and her team, and an immediate asset for your collection … if you can restrain yourself from opening it.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Jeb Dunnuck was in heaven, awarding it 99 points and calling it a "classic, age-worthy" Cabernet with "full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, awesome mid-palate" and "building tannins.” It will, he confidently predicted, "see its 30th birthday in fine form." The wine was also featured in Robb Report's "9 Stellar Cabernet Sauvignons From Napa Valley's Storied Howell Mountain AVA," cementing its status among the elite expressions from that legendary appellation.
OUR TASTING NOTES: This is Howell Mountain Cabernet doing exactly what Howell Mountain Cabernet should do: announcing its presence from the very first whiff and never letting you forget it. The aromatics are as intense as they are transportive. Wave upon wave of boysenberry and black cherry greet you, followed by hints of graham cracker, cola, and crushed rose petals. We’re far, far from fruit bomb territory: this is layered, complex, nuanced. On the palate, Cyrot has managed to deliver power without walloping you. Crushed blackberries and milk chocolate-covered cherries unfold with a marvelous velvety richness that lingers long after the sip, a credit to the wine's finely developed tannins. The final act is maybe the most impressive thing of all. It doesn't just finish, it builds to a crescendo of candied fruit and espresso that makes you forget the noise of the world for a few hours.
THE STORY: The CADE estate, sitting at 1,850 feet above sea level, occupies that sweet spot on Howell Mountain where altitude meets ambition. The winery emerged in 2005 through the combined vision of the PlumpJack group. But today, the biggest name of all belongs to Cyrot, the winemaker, who has transformed this mountainous terrain into a tightly-managed venture (just 21 acres total) that routinely produces some of the most impressive and accessible wines in all of Napa. And some of the most organically-made, as well. CADE was at the forefront of the greening of the wine industry in Napa, and remains a leader and advocate today, with an organic-only vineyard that has received certifications from the California Certified Organic Farmers and Napa Green.
WHAT TO PAIR IT WITH: This one all but demands a rosy prime rib, a char-grilled ribeye, or a rack of lamb with wild herbs and mustard.
FUN FACT: The name of the winery is sourced from Shakespeare, a reference to the wine casks, or cades, shipped from Bordeaux to England during Elizabethan times. An appropriately literary moniker for a PlumpJack family operation.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate to ensure that your wines arrive with pristine provenance. This is 99-point Howell Mountain Cabernet at its most glorious — secure yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2026. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, KY, MI, NE, NY, OK & TN. This offer will expire on Thursday, December 25th, 2025.