Joe Czerwinski
2023 Castiel Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
There are 175 cases of Castiel Estate's impressive 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of fruit from the estate vineyard on Howell Mountain (65%) and Red Hen Vineyard in Yountville (35%). Cedar and loamy earth notes underscore the ripe black cherries in this full-bodied, plush effort, which finishes long, cosseted by soft, velvety tannins.
Castiel Estate is based on an 88-acre holding on Howell Mountain owned by Dave and Kathleen DiCesaris. The first few vintages were produced from a neighbors' vineyard, but they've since added that to their original property. Celia Welch was the original winemaker, but as she has cut back on the number of consultancies, that role has been taken over by Maayan Koschitzky. "I love '23 for Howell Mountain," said Koschitzky, as we tasted the wines in the downtown Napa tasting salon of another of his clients. "You had a longer hang time to really develop the tannins," he said.
The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a fine value, blending fruit from the Howell Mountain estate with fruit from Blue Hen, in Yountville. There's an excellent Sauvignon Blanc from Saint Helena. But the real gem is the Cabernet Sauvignon off the DiCesaris's property on Howell Mountain, which comes close to epitomizing that AVA's descriptors, including blue fruit, hints of pine and ample aging potential.
Rating: 93 pts
Maturity: 2026 - 2035