2017 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Steinhauer Vineyard Howell Mountain Napa Valley 750 ml

Beringer is one of the great names in Napa—a historic producer that bridges the region’s past, present, and future. In every era, they’ve been at the forefront of quality in the valley, sparing no expense to produce powerful, bold Cabernet, like this single-vineyard bottling from Steinhauer Ranch, which comes from some of the most beloved dirt in Napa.

Howell Mountain is best known for producing exceptionally concentrated, powerful Cabernet with a rugged personality—if a wine could wear boots and a big hat, this would. Steinhauer Ranch is located just down the road from Dunn’s legendary estate vineyard and shows off in a single sip everything that made the area famous. 

With bold, dark fruit on the nose, highlighted by scents of blackberry, cassis, and bay laurel, it’s obvious from the start that this is going to be a muscular wine. The palate is concentrated and punchy, with a blast of fruit that gives way to savory structure and a long, grippy finish. It demands a few hours in a decanter or a sleep in your cellar, but will reward both with a singular drinking experience.

This 2017 is just more proof of the qualitative tear that Beringer has been on since Mark, great-great-grandson of one of the founding brothers, returned to the family business. Working with the same vineyards that his family first cultivated in the 1890s, he’s showed his complete mastery of the style that has twice earned Beringer Wine of the Year honors from Wine Spectator.