97 points Wine Advocate The deep garnet colored 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain does pirouettes out of the glass, flashing fancy blackberry pie, preserved Morello cherries and blackcurrant pastilles notes plus hints of cigar box, potpourri, fallen leaves, mossy tree bark and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features lovely freshness and a ripe, fine-grained texture supporting the multilayered black and red fruits, finishing long and mineral laced. (LPB)  (1/2020)

94 points Vinous This is a thrilling set of wines from the gregarious Betty O’Shaughnessy and her winemaker Sean Capiaux. The Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon includes a host of other varieties, while the Mt. Veeder bottling is 100% Cabernet. Both wines spend 20 months in French oak barrels and are bottled without fining or filtration. The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is all minerals, graphite and pure Howell Mountain. Layers of dark red fruit come to life in this articulate, pedigreed Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2009 needs another few years in the bottle, but it is already quite striking, especially with some time in the glass. Saline notes frame the long finish. The 2009 is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% St. Macaire and 2% Cabernet Franc. (AG) 94+  (12/2011)