• High Fidelity first because the blend is likely the broadest and softest expression. It sets the house style without letting a mountain AVA dominate your palate too early.
• Stags Leap District next because it’s often the most polished and supple single-AVA Cabernet of the group.
• Calistoga after that since it usually brings more warmth, ripeness, and power.
• Diamond Mountain then steps you into more structure, darker fruit, and firmer mountain character.
• Howell Mountain last because it is typically the most intense, tannic, and palate-coating of the set.
A clean way to think about it is:
blend → elegant valley floor → warmer/riper valley edge → structured mountain → most powerful mountain
Two practical notes:
• Pour them all at once and revisit after 20–30 minutes. These 2013s should open and shift.
• Keep your pours small on the first pass. Howell can crush the others if you start there.
1 Comment
Here’s what GPT has to say:
I’d run it in this order:
1. High Fidelity
2. Stags Leap District
3. Calistoga
4. Diamond Mountain
5. Howell Mountain
Why this works:
• High Fidelity first because the blend is likely the broadest and softest expression. It sets the house style without letting a mountain AVA dominate your palate too early.
• Stags Leap District next because it’s often the most polished and supple single-AVA Cabernet of the group.
• Calistoga after that since it usually brings more warmth, ripeness, and power.
• Diamond Mountain then steps you into more structure, darker fruit, and firmer mountain character.
• Howell Mountain last because it is typically the most intense, tannic, and palate-coating of the set.
A clean way to think about it is:
blend → elegant valley floor → warmer/riper valley edge → structured mountain → most powerful mountain
Two practical notes:
• Pour them all at once and revisit after 20–30 minutes. These 2013s should open and shift.
• Keep your pours small on the first pass. Howell can crush the others if you start there.