Lush, velvety and opulent, Helena Montana chronicles the terroir at this steep, Knights Valley hillside site. The signature attributes include blackberries, currants, violets, chocolate, spice and licorice. The palate offers deep, expansive flavors supported by soft, silky tannins. While Helena Montana typically shows well in its youth, it is a wine that will expand and improve with age.
Running northeast to southwest at an elevation of 950 feet above sea level, the 60-acre Helena Montana vineyard is marked by rolling hills and steep benches that tilt up to 30 degrees. It features firm, dense, white/yellow gravelly loam soils that drain extremely well. The combination of hills, knolls and trees helps route cool, westerly winds away from the vines. Helena Montana Cabernets are concentrated and powerful with black fruit flavors, spice, minerals and muscular tannins. Pierre finds the Cabernet from Helena Montana to be reminiscent of the wines of Margaux.
Focused and powerful on the nose, showing ripe red and black currant, along with dried bouquet garni and a subtle frame of sweet baking spices. The palate is a tour de force of varied fruit and non-fruit flavors, wrapped around a powerful core, teeming with firm tannin and juicy acidity.
