Cade

Estate Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

9.351 ratings
9.310 pro ratings
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon
Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pasta, Venison, Tomato-Based, Potato, Pork, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Mushrooms, Beef, Lamb, Chili & Hot Spicy
Top Notes For
Ron R
9.4

Another excellent 17 vintage wine. Cade rarely steps off the reservation.

Another excellent 17 vintage wine. Cade rarely steps off the reservation.

Mar 27th, 2022
Adam Kincaid

If you have the opportunity to skimp and not get a magnum, don’t. Always get the magnum.

This isn’t ready to drink, not even close. We decanted for an hour and then swirled and swirled to get it right. When we did, it opened up nicely with blueberry and coffee, some blackberry and earth. Strong, chewy tannins, but not unenjoyably so.

I’ll be thinking about this big guy for a long time.

If you have the opportunity to skimp and not get a magnum, don’t. Always get the magnum.

This isn’t ready to drink, not even close. We decanted for an hour and then swirled and swirled to get it right. When we did, it opened up nicely with blueberry and coffee, some blackberry and earth. Strong, chewy tannins, but not unenjoyably so.

I’ll be thinking about this big guy for a long time.

Aug 10th, 2021
Chris McClellan

Just a baby…but powerful and bold….great mountain fruit…decanted but wasnt enough…could age for a very long time…

Just a baby…but powerful and bold….great mountain fruit…decanted but wasnt enough…could age for a very long time…

Jun 13th, 2021
Ron R
9.4

We are loving the Cade a little more. Which one do you prefer? 🤔

We are loving the Cade a little more. Which one do you prefer? 🤔

May 9th, 2021
Ron R
9.3

Excellent product coming from a much maligned vintage. Pure excellence in a glass...

Excellent product coming from a much maligned vintage. Pure excellence in a glass...

Jan 18th, 2021
Ron R
9.4

Wifey and Silva were en pointe from the pastry perspective.
Happy Xmas, peeps!

Wifey and Silva were en pointe from the pastry perspective.
Happy Xmas, peeps!

Dec 26th, 2020
Ron R
9.4

A much maligned vintage, which I personally don’t see in the quality of the wines, especially this. This is big, bold and luscious. Wonderful.

A much maligned vintage, which I personally don’t see in the quality of the wines, especially this. This is big, bold and luscious. Wonderful.

Oct 19th, 2020
Ron R
9.5

This is the big easy...
Loving this presentation. Rich, decadent and polished.

This is the big easy...
Loving this presentation. Rich, decadent and polished.

Aug 15th, 2020
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

We drove up Howell Mountain to get to Cade two Sundays ago. What we witnessed was a horror show of fire damage. It’s hard to see nature destroyed in such a fashion. What was worse were all the brick chimneys only standing where there were once a home or a winery building.

Glass fire note. The fire investigation revealed the fire was started by a Cakebread electric fence short. An additional saddening note is Dolores Cakebread, the co-founder of Cakebread Cellars died shortly after the Glass Fire started. She was 90. No way to know if the stress of the fire factored into her passing.

The Howell Mountain was showing better than the Estate...rounder & a touch softer. The tannins were big, grainy, meaty, tarry & dry. This needs another 8 years in bottle to shine. I think at that point, it will push more 94-95. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum & dark cherries. Showing big wood as well...like sucking on a wood plank. Used dark expresso grounds, leather, graphite, dry tobacco, dry brush, dark chocolate, caramel, dark spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, some black licorice notes. dry, crushed rock powder, dry top soils with fresh, dark, red & purple flowers. The acidity is nicely executed. The finish will take time. It’s good, well balanced but, showing little of the integration I prefer.

Photos of; Cade Estate vines, outside patio tasting area, infinity wall and their Estate Cabernet fruit unharvested. Sadly, about 80-85% of the 2020 Napa Valley Cabernet fruit will never see bottling.

We drove up Howell Mountain to get to Cade two Sundays ago. What we witnessed was a horror show of fire damage. It’s hard to see nature destroyed in such a fashion. What was worse were all the brick chimneys only standing where there were once a home or a winery building.

Glass fire note. The fire investigation revealed the fire was started by a Cakebread electric fence short. An additional saddening note is Dolores Cakebread, the co-founder of Cakebread Cellars died shortly after the Glass Fire started. She was 90. No way to know if the stress of the fire factored into her passing.

The Howell Mountain was showing better than the Estate...rounder & a touch softer. The tannins were big, grainy, meaty, tarry & dry. This needs another 8 years in bottle to shine. I think at that point, it will push more 94-95. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum & dark cherries. Showing big wood as well...like sucking on a wood plank. Used dark expresso grounds, leather, graphite, dry tobacco, dry brush, dark chocolate, caramel, dark spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, some black licorice notes. dry, crushed rock powder, dry top soils with fresh, dark, red & purple flowers. The acidity is nicely executed. The finish will take time. It’s good, well balanced but, showing little of the integration I prefer.

Photos of; Cade Estate vines, outside patio tasting area, infinity wall and their Estate Cabernet fruit unharvested. Sadly, about 80-85% of the 2020 Napa Valley Cabernet fruit will never see bottling.

1 person found it helpfulNov 10th, 2020
Ron R
9.4

If you do nothing else over the next two weeks, please VOTE.
Mail-in voting - an anathema for some, a salvation for others...
Prior notes apply.

If you do nothing else over the next two weeks, please VOTE.
Mail-in voting - an anathema for some, a salvation for others...
Prior notes apply.

1 person found it helpfulOct 24th, 2020