Cade Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Cade Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, bottled at 15.9% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2021 vintage earned 99 points from Jeb Dunnuck, placing it among the most critically acclaimed mountain Cabernets in California. Produced exclusively from free-run juice and aged entirely in new French oak, this reserve-tier bottling represents the pinnacle of CADE Estate Winery's organically farmed, high-elevation program.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.9% (2021)  |  Origin: Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California  |  Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Winery: CADE Estate Winery

Production & Heritage

CADE Estate Winery sits between 1,500 and 1,850 feet of elevation on Howell Mountain, one of Napa Valley's most prized mountain appellations. The estate holds distinction as the first CCOF-certified organically farmed, LEED Gold Certified winery in California — a commitment to sustainability that extends from vineyard management through winemaking. The Reserve bottling uses only free-run wine, excluding all press fractions, and ages for 20 months in 100% new French oak barrels. The 2021 blend is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot, though proportions shift modestly between vintages — the 2019, for example, was 96% Cabernet Sauvignon with 4% Malbec.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The glass opens with intense boysenberry and wild blueberry, layered with warm cassis and black cherry. Deeper swirls reveal clove, crushed rose petals, cola, and a subtle mineral note of crushed rocks that signals the volcanic Howell Mountain terroir.

Taste: Entry is plush and immediately concentrated, with crushed blackberries and raspberry coulis flooding the palate. Mid-palate transitions into milk chocolate-covered cherries, caramel, and cocoa powder, while vanilla and cedar notes emerge from the extensive new oak aging. The mouthfeel is velvety and rich, with rounded yet robust tannins that provide serious structural grip without turning austere.

Finish: Long and layered, closing with espresso, candied blue and black fruits, and a persistent thread of fragrant earth. The tannin architecture lingers well past the final sip, promising considerable aging potential.

How to Drink Cade Reserve

This wine deserves a large-bowled Bordeaux glass and at least 30 to 60 minutes of decanting to fully unfurl its aromatic complexity. Serving slightly below room temperature — around 62–65°F — helps keep the 15.9% alcohol integrated and lets the fruit and mineral layers emerge in balance. Given its concentration and tannic structure, this is a wine built for the table rather than cocktail adaptation; pair it with food that matches its weight and intensity.

Best For

• Anchoring a Napa Valley vertical tasting alongside other Howell Mountain producers
• Gifting to a serious Cabernet collector who values both score and sustainability
• Serving as the centerpiece wine at a celebratory dinner or special occasion meal
• Cellaring for 10–20 years to track the evolution of Howell Mountain terroir

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cade Reserve taste like? Cade Reserve delivers dense, layered dark fruit — boysenberry, blackberry, and wild blueberry — interwoven with cocoa, espresso, caramel, and cedar. The mouthfeel is velvety with robust mountain tannins and a long, earthy finish.

How does Cade Reserve compare to Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet? Both are benchmark Howell Mountain Cabernets, but they represent different stylistic philosophies. Dunn Vineyards is the pioneering producer that established Howell Mountain's reputation with a more austere, age-demanding style, while Cade Reserve leans toward richer, more immediately approachable concentration with 100% new French oak and free-run juice.

Is Cade Reserve good for cellaring? Yes — the combination of robust mountain tannins, high extract, and structured acidity gives this wine significant aging potential, and top vintages should evolve gracefully over 10 to 20 years in a properly maintained cellar.

Where is Cade Reserve made? Cade Reserve is produced at CADE Estate Winery on Howell Mountain in Napa Valley, California, at elevations between 1,500 and 1,850 feet. The estate is the first CCOF organically farmed, LEED Gold Certified winery in the state.

What foods pair well with Cade Reserve? Grilled prime ribeye steak, as the marbling matches the wine's tannic structure. Braised short ribs with a red wine reduction complement its dark fruit intensity. Aged hard cheeses like 24-month Comté echo the wine's caramel and nutty oak tones. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the cocoa and espresso finish. Herb-crusted rack of lamb bridges the wine's garrigue and earthy mineral notes.

What sizes does Cade Reserve come in? Cade Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Cade Reserve worth the price? Cade Reserve positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Napa Valley Cabernet, and its 99-point score from Jeb Dunnuck places it in rare company among mountain-grown California wines at its price level. For collectors seeking organically farmed, critically acclaimed Howell Mountain fruit, it represents a strong value relative to other 99-point Napa Cabernets.

Why Cade Reserve?

The 99-point score from Jeb Dunnuck on the 2021 vintage is not an outlier — the 2019 earned 98 points from Dunnuck and 95 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, demonstrating consistent excellence across multiple harvests. What separates this bottling from much of its competition is the intersection of organic farming certification with uncompromising winemaking: free-run juice only, 20 months in 100% new French oak, and fruit sourced exclusively from high-elevation Howell Mountain vineyards. The LEED Gold Certified, CCOF-certified organic estate adds a layer of provenance that few Napa producers at this quality level can match. For collectors and enthusiasts tracking the best of Howell Mountain, the Reserve bottling is CADE's definitive statement.