Favorite Howell Mountain Tastings

Planning a visit to Napa in March with the wife. Will have an afternoon free with time for only one tasting on The Mountain. We like Dunn and Arkenstone and have heard good things about the Outpost tasting.

What are your favorite tasting experiences on HM? Any better recommendations than ones previously mentioned? Any HM winery experience in particular stand out and why?


EDIT: We like Dunn and Arkenstone wine but have never visited any of the wineries up there.

1 Like

I love tasting at Red Cap. It’s all the way up top at same elevation as Dunn but a little South. Wines are very good and fairly priced plus you get a wine club discount with purchase of six bottles which is easy. He typically has two vintages and more library wines available at only slight up charge. The 14 is drinking great now! Beautiful property and walk through his vineyard followed by tasting at his dining room table. They also make a nice sauv Blanc with fruit purchased from valley floor. And he’s a fellow Eagles fan which makes it even more of a no brainer for me

2 Likes

I don’t know how the experience might have changed since it sold, but prior to that, Outpost was magical (I suspect it still is).

Also don’t miss Neal.

2 Likes

Outpost is good. O’Shaunnessy is ok, depends on the host. I have a soft spot for Robert Craig (Th-Sun only, I believe)- excellent wine, value and view. Black Sears if they can take guests.

2 Likes

Might try Spring Mountain as well. Pretty close and Pride does a good tasting.

I have heard great things about Cimarossa. Love their wines but have not visited yet!

A fantastic visit! Beautiful wines (and views) too.

1 Like

Neal has a nice tasting at their winery as well.

1 Like

Yes, a visit to Cimarossa is definitely recommended.

1 Like

Cade has a beautiful facility, great views, and an all around good atmosphere

1 Like

I haven’t been but know Roy Piper is a big fan. It is the only Howell Mt wine I’m consistently buying now that Outpost was sold.

3 Likes

Just looked at Cimarossa and am intrigued. Hadn’t heard of them before.
Those that have had Cimarossa, how would you describe them? How would you compare their style to other producers? Are they approachable young or do they benefit from 20+ years of age like other Howell Mountain wines?

2 Likes

Did you try reaching out to Mike and Kara Dunn to see if you can do a tasting at either Dunn or Retro Cellars (Mike’s other project)?

1 Like

I’d like to be able to say Forman but that was without a doubt the most disappointing visit I experienced.

1 Like

I would recommend O’Shaughnessy I’ve been twice and both times were great experiences and the wines are excellent and pretty good value. If you go make sure to check out the owner’s private collection. Very impressive.

1 Like

Yes, they do tastings by appointment only. Definitely one of our top options. Although, I’ve heard since his kids largely took over that there’s just something missing due to the absence of that expletive flare Randy provided…

1 Like

Randy is still around, from what I understand. Mike is making the wine for the most part, but Randy isn’t one to easily let go. :grinning: But that may have changed since the pandemic. Easy to get in touch with Kara via the Retro website.

Jim F wrote:
I have a soft spot for Robert Craig (Th-Sun only, I believe)- excellent wine, value and view.

Agree with Robert Craig. FWIW, they also just moved to a new downtown location, if you are staying downtown while you are visiting.

Michael S. Monie wrote:
I’d like to be able to say Forman but that was without a doubt the most disappointing visit I experienced.

Interesting. We have visited them at least a half a dozen times and every visit has been wonderful. I have also referred some folks there and they enjoyed the experience. Sorry you had a bad experience there, Michael.

All these suggestions have me torn between a known (Dunn) and new possibilities (Cimarossa).

Any insight into how these wines compare? I’m all about delayed gratification and have no problem waiting for a decade or two for these to develop but am also curious if any of the above suggestions show well early.

Ric was no where to be found, but when you have been at it as long as he has, that was really no surprise. Upon arrival we were escorted to the cave and told," you all can look around here for awhile and then come inside", at which time we were left alone. There was never a mention of seeing the vineyards. Once inside, we tasted through 3 wines and after saying that I am a big fan of the wines and buy them annually from a local retailer, was given the hard sell to buy from them, which I reluctantly did. It was actually this visit that made me aware that I was done with visiting Napa.