1992 La Jota 11th Anniversary Howell Mountain Cabernet
14.1% Alcohol
$55 @auction
Decanted for approximetely 2.5 hours prior to first taste from Riedel Grand Cru Sommelier Bordeaux stems. Quite simply an awesome wine, and one that recieves the highest marks from me this year. Dark and brooding, opaque black in color, with an astonishing nose of cassis, smoke, camphor, raspberry, cocoa powder, and mineral. A full bodied pure and multilayered monster, this wine is wonderful on the palate, with layers of flavors echoing the nose. While massively endowed and chewy this wine is neither heavy or overbearing, but suprisingly light on it's feet, very impressive! Sweet huge dusty tannins linger on the expansive finish that goes on for nearly a minute. Many more years are ahead of this, for all of the structural components are there, in balance and strength. 98+ points.
This was tasted alongside a 1992 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet, and 1990 Dalla Valle Cabernet. The three wines were tasted side by side over approximetely a 3 hour period in rotation until they were gone (approx 3 glasses from each), to monitor evolution. A 1999 Quilceda Creek Cab was served after completing the 3 other wines. The La Jota was ranked tied for 1st among the 4 wines tasted, for overall enjoyment.