Imagine a mountain.
Steep slopes. Craggy soil. Cold fog misting an old, storied orchard.
You make your way up the hill, breathing chilly morning air.
Out of the mists, thick vines appear, heavy with bulbous, blue-black berries.
Welcome to Howell Mountain. Those berries are grapes, and this is where La Jota Merlot comes from.
It's a special place. High above the fog line in northeastern Napa County, Howell Mountain has a climate all its own, where wet, snowy winters and even-tempered, mellow summers produce grapes so uniquely intense that Howell became the first official sub-appellation in Napa County.
Howell's grapes are grown and tended with great care by La Jota Winery, which concentrates its efforts in small batches of supremely balanced wines. Winemaker Chris Carpenter has found his home on the mountain, where he and Vineyard Manager Mariano Navarro work with Howell's gifts, and its challenges, to grow and craft unforgettable wines.
We've fallen in love with La Jota Merlot, which its rich, dark cherry essence, smooth mouthfeel, and lingering finish. When we taste it, we taste the mountain, and the music of Carpenter's artistry. The wine is complex, ripe, and exquisitely memorable.
In fact, La Jota's Merlot is so good, we thought it was a Cab.
Come to the mountain at La Jota.