O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery: Incredible Howell Mountain Experience

There’s something about a big Cab that gets this big haired lady excited – and O’Shaughnessy Cabs and the O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery get me really, really excited. This place is absolutely one of Napa Valley’s hidden jewels. Located high atop Howell Mountain, the winery seamlessly fits into the densely forested hillsides – intricately combining stone and massive glass walls that truly enhance a sense-of-place unlike any other Napa site I’ve visited.

The drive up Howell Mountain is spectacular, but the slow ride up the long, breathtaking driveway is a visual treat that really sets the stage for a full sensory experience. Our visit included an overview of the winery’s location and history, an intimate seated tasting of five wines, followed by a walking tour of the property and its 12,000 square foot cave (which featured an excellent selection of Tom Petty’s greatest hits piped-in for the barreled wine’s benefit). Sitting on the patio to round-out our tasting, I couldn’t help but think that O’Shaughnessy gets it right at every facet of the game – especially the wine.

Coupled with the winery’s sense-of-place is the incredible expression of terroir showcased in the beautiful wines O’Shaughnessy delivers every year. Winemaker Sean Capiaux (whose personal label dedicated to Pinot Noir, “Capiaux Cellars,” is also made at O’Shaughnessy – be sure to ask for the list and take a bottle with you) truly takes advantage of the incredibly concentrated fruit grown on the hillside slopes surrounding the winery. If you’re looking for a contemporary approach to how Napa reflects Bordeaux, these are your wines.

We sipped and savored our way through the 2016 Oakville Chardonnay, the 2015 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2014 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, but the 2014 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon proved to be the showstopper in this lineup. Unique in its makeup, it incorporates all five noble Bordeaux varietals (Cab Sauv, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cab Franc) and two (St. Macaire and Carmenere) of Bordeaux’ “forgotten three” (Gros Verdot being the other). Priced at $100, it’s muscular, full of depth, structure, and balance – exuding currants, licorice, blackberries, and a note of the forest surrounding the vineyards – it may be my favorite Napa Valley wine I’ve ever tasted.

Location: Angwin, California, Napa Valley – on Howell Mountain – 20 minutes from the intersection of Silverado Trail and Deer Park Road.

Highlights: The stunningly beautiful property; Exceptional wines (O’Shaughnessy and Capiaux Cellars); Wonderful Hospitality; A Big Cab, Bigger Hair favorite

Must try Wine: 2014 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon *Note: we were lucky enough to try the 2016 Capiaux Widdoes Vineyard Pinot Noir (which isn’t part of a traditional tasting experience at O’Shaughnessy), but trust me – if you like Pinot Noir, the Capiaux wines (I’ve had a few in the past) always deliver. Ask your wine guide for a list and pick something that sounds like it suits your style.

Visit: Open by appointment only – be sure to contact at least a few weeks in advance