Angwin Estate Vineyards The Kissing Trees Rosé Howell Mountain 2020

After many vintages of offering Jon Larson and Angela Henszel's Angwin Estate Cabernet, it was a true pleasure to learn of a debut wine from the 2020 vintage, The Kissing Trees Rosé. This rosé is the rare kind, vinted as a saignée of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes off their small, two-acre vineyard planted at an elevation of 2,200 feet on the eastern side of Howell Mountain.

Drenched in sunshine and encircled by a forest of pine trees, this peach of a vineyard is planted in intensely rocky, red volcanic soil producing a wine that genuinely celebrates its sense of place; majestic, mysterious, and enduring. Growing up in Angwin, Jon, after years in medical school, residencies, and pursuing careers in anesthesia and surgery across the United States, dreamed of the day when he and his wife, Angela, could return to his home on top of Howell Mountain and produce wine of their own. So, in 2002, Jon and Angela moved back to his childhood home, and with the help of family and friends, they planted two acres of Cabernet. From the beginning, they've adhered to a core philosophy of farming with respect for the land, growing exceptional fruit that leads to long-lived wines with an intoxicating complexity that express a sense of place that lends itself to classic, simple winemaking.

Jon was mentored, inspired, and advised by legendary Napa Winemaker Philip Togni, whom he has admired his entire life (Jon went to school with Philip's daughter, Lisa, in Saint Helena). Jon's mission became to produce the most outstanding Cabernet that mirrored the classic style he knew so well from his mentor, no matter the sacrifice or expense. After Jon's sudden passing in early 2022, Angela has taken the helm of Angwin Estate Vineyards and, alongside their two sons, Piotr and Arek, are stewarding Jon's legacy in making remarkable wines from their treasured home atop Howell Mountain.

Angwin Estate produced only 39 cases of this ultra-rare 2020 rosé. The winged sandal of Perseus on the label seems like a nod to this bottling as the wine shows lift with fresh fruit from the start. The Cabernet grapes lend a deeper ruby red color than one's eye is accustomed to for rosé, with an expectation for darker fruits, but the nose is all ripe raspberries, fresh strawberries, and Red Delicious apples. The palate offers more florals, like pink roses, and intriguing notes of cedar shavings, most likely from aging in French and Hungarian oak barrels. While soft and well-integrated, the tannins are still present and carry the rosé through a round and lasting finish. This wine is not your average rosé.