94 Points | International Wine Cellar , May/June 2011

Deep, bright ruby.  Subtler and more obviously mineral on the nose than the regular HM release, offering scents of black fruits, bitter chocolate and licorice.  Full, plush and seamless, with a compellingly suave texture to its mouthfilling flavors of dark fruits, licorice and minerals.  Much plumper and sweeter than the young 2009.  Finishes very long, with broad, refined tannins buffered by the wine's mid-palate stuffing.  An outstanding example of Howell Mountain cabernet.  This reminded me of a 2007, except that the tannins are even sweeter.  Bottled unfined and unfiltered; the Howell Mountain release received a light polish filtration.

98+ Points | Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate