Review: 2006 Robert Craig Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

By Christopher Null | May 12, 2009 |

Robert Craig sent this pre-release vintage of its 2006 Howell Mountain Cabernet, and it’s quite a wine. Very big and, certainly, worth some time in the cellar before it’s ready for prime time, the ultra-dark wine features aromas of roasted meats and smooth plum notes.

Right now the wine is tight and really needs time to develop. But there’s a lot of promise here: Nice herbal character, some plum and black cherry notes, and a pepperiness on the finish that’s fun. The overall body is a little thin though, and my hope is that that will fill out a bit in the next few years as the tannin breaks down.

B+ / $70 / robertcraigwine.com

(2005 label shown; 2006 is similar)