Visually, the ’21 Cab is an ink black abyss ringed by the last sliver of red sunlight in a crepuscular sky. The nose pops with aromas of currant, cassis, and cherries. On the palate, the fruit is primarily the same cassis and ripe bing cherries with hints of black pepper, sage, and iron dust. This is a slightly more restrained Cabernet for us, with firm, dry tannins that will benefit from a bit of age, but the combination of fruit, acidity, and earthiness somehow makes the structure a bit softer than the tannins would imply. The acidity is a bit less bright than many Cabs from this site, harkening back to its appearance in the glass--the last light before the beckoning of darkest night--while the finish is the memory of the long day, from sunrise, to hands in the red Howell Mountain dirt, to the rocky peaks that kiss the sun goodnight and launch the stars.
