The 2018 Cuvée Howell Mountain is gorgeous. Best of all, it will drink well early, while the Cabernets soften in the cellar. Dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, spice and leather all flesh out in the glass. The Cuvée marries the racy personality of the year with the character of Howell Mountain, a winning combination in my book. The Cuvée is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 4% Malbec, mostly from Robert Craig's Candlestick Vineyard, with a bit of fruit from the Summit Lake property.