Robert Parker, Jr.:  Rated as An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. "The stunning 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot) is the finest Cabernet this estate has yet produced from their Howell Mountain holdings. A dense purple color to the rim as well as an exquisite bouquet of black raspberries, blueberries, creme de cassis, smoke, and crushed rocks are followed by sweet fruit, gorgeous density, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and a layered, multidimensional mid-palate and length. With no hard edges, this flawless wine should drink well for 20-25 years.  One of the superstar estates on Howell Mountain, winemaker Sean Capiaux is the force behind these impressive reds. Capiaux also makes his own wines (almost all Pinot Noirs) under the Capiaux Cellars label." Dec 2009

Winery:  "Our estate vines are now over fourteen years old and have established deep roots on our 100 acre hillside property. The 2007 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a stupendous wine with a near solid black core and purple rim color. The wine explodes out of the glass with sweet blackberry liqueur, chocolate, blueberry, pie, allspice and crème de cassis that coat the mouth with perfect density and weight, the wine finishes long and sweet with ample tannins to continue it's life well into the future."

Wired For Wine: Pay attention winelovers, it's not often that you have an opportunity to partake of a "stunning, flawless, gorgeous, enticing" wine such as this  O'Shaughnessy Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.  Enough talking.  Open your first bottle and stand back as the stupendous flavors make their entrance.  A fitting partner for your first taste is a terrine of short rib meat slow-cooked with smoked paprika and garlic, served with tangy caper berries and thinly sliced crusty bread.  That ought to be an appropriate introduction to the magnificent density and smoke in this Napa Cabernet.  Moving on, the myriad of black fruit, crème de cassis, minerals, full body and world class weight and finish require serious meaty fare such as lamb, beef, game and steak.  We hope you're hungry.  If you're thinking ahead to the holidays, we can't conceive of a better wine for a showstopping standing rib roast with spinach-porcini stuffing and two mushroom sauce.  Offer it with full glasses, a golden potato gratin and French beans with caramelized shallots on the side and watch as sheer delight commandeers the room.  Bring out the fruit in this O'Shaughnessy with medallions of venison with port and cranberries.  If a little less labor is your choice, we highly recommend an easy Provencal leg of lamb.  Roast it with tomatoes, onions, rosemary, thyme and mustard and a little drizzle of honey while you have another glass of this Howell Mountain red.  Offer the lamb with a creamy gorgonzola polenta and your guests might never leave.  We think that the dark chocolate notes and lovely rich fruit warrant a foray into the dessert world.  Bring on even more happy with a mile-high dark chocolate cake with espresso fudge buttercream, and of course, another bottle.  Just one more thing: have the smelling salts on hand; there is great likelihood of swooning...

Size:  750ml
Varietal:   83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% St. Macaire
Alcohol:  14.8%
Ageing:   20 months in French oak
Region:   Howell Mountain, Napa California
Limited production:  3,000 dozen