2014 Bravante Vineyards TRIO Red Wine Howell Mountain Napa Valley 750 ml

The first time we tasted the 2014 TRIO was in January of 2015—straight out of the barrel. Right away we knew it was special. Massively concentrated mountain Cabernet led the way with gorgeous dark fruit purity and structure, while Merlot and Cabernet Franc added polish, plushness, and depth. It was only a matter of time before this took its place alongside the Howell Mountain elite. 

Right on cue, the 2014 earned 93 points from James Suckling, who called it “generous,” and “silky,” while Wine & Spirits hailed a “potent” blend, led by “heady, rich black-cherry fruit.” Even at the original release price of $60 it stood out as an incredible value compared to Howell Mountain’s high-priced ($100-$150) Arkenstone, O’Shaughnessy, and Cade. 

With today’s 33% discount dropping the price to $40, one of the top Howell Mountain releases of the 2014 vintage is now as affordable as it is drinkable. Our small allocation, straight from the cellars at Bravante, is the only one in the country. 

We’ve been friends with Bravante’s storied winemaker, Duane Dappen, for a long time. It was Dappen—an alum of Frank Family, Rombauer, and Grgich—who had invited us to the Bravante estate, 1600 feet up White Cottage Road, to taste the TRIO from barrel back in 2015. And he’s the one who invited us to TORC on Main St. in Napa, to try it again this January, almost five years to the day after our first sip. 

We were preparing to order the truffle grilled cheese, a favorite at TORC, when Dappen reached into his carrier to produce a bottle of the 2014. “How about the NY strip?” he said, smiling and nodding at the wine. We didn’t protest. 

Dappen opened the bottle and set it on the table. After about 30 minutes, when we had finished our squash blossoms and mushroom risotto, the steak arrived, grilled to perfection. Dappen filled our glasses with healthy pours of the 2014 and straight away it began to sing. The black cherry and cassis notes are warm and supple, woven with seductive complexity—mountain soil, smoke, and seared meat. Six years in bottle have yielded seamlessness and balance, while the Howell Mountain tannins hold their grip with a velvety touch. 

We locked in an exclusive allocation of the 2014 right on the spot, before the last bite of steak and the last drop of wine were finished. Library releases from top-tier Howell Mountain estates don’t come around every day, especially at up to 40% off.