1 bottle of HWC Cabernet Sauvignon on a white background

2019 H.W.C. CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Named after the founder of To Kalon, H.W.C is produced from one single clonal selection of Cabernet Sauvignon within To Kalon. These vines were originally planted by Robert Mondavi, who was lured to To Kalon by the depth and richness of the wines he made from the vineyard in the 1960s. This incredibly low-yielding selection of Cabernet Sauvignon produces wines with high energy, a black-purple color, and exceptional aromatic and palate intensity—a high-resolution look at this noble variety. While not overly ripe or extracted, the wine has remarkable freshness, texture, richness, and length. Four extra months of barrel aging give it a high level of polish and a silky finish.

  • Vintage 2019
  • Vineyard To Kalon Vineyard
  • Appellation Oakville, Napa Valley
  • Varietal 100% Heritage Clone Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cooperage 100% New French Oak
  • Winemaker Andy Erickson

  • Accolades

    100 Pts. "This has amazing fruit at the end of the palate, creating an endless finish of raspberry, boysenberry and blackcurrant. Spice, too. It's full-bodied with compact fruit. The essence of cabernet sauvignon. Remarkable wine, with energy, depth and purity. Drinkable now, but better after 2026."
    — James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com

    99 Pts. "In the same qualitative ballpark as the Eliza's, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon H.W.C has everything you could want from Napa Cabernet, revealing a dense purple hue, incredible black raspberry and cassis fruit, full-bodied richness, velvety tannins, and remarkable complexity in its spicy, floral, violet, and tobacco-laced aromatics. Despite being a big, rich Cabernet, it has a solid sense of freshness and stays light and graceful, with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Don't miss it."
    — Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com

    98 Pts. "Named for the initials of the vineyard's original owner, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon H.W.C. features aromas of dark chocolate and cassis, with subtle notes of wood in the background. Hints of dark loam and Asian spice bring added complexity. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and complete, the HWC offers ample generosity from start to finish, a luscious and decadent yet savory expression of Oakville."
    — Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate

    96 Pts."A textbook Oakville big boy, with a prodigious structure that's polished and plush in feel, supporting large waves of warmed cassis, steeped plum and blackberry reduction. Winey and muscular but with detail and cut, as apple wood, sweet bay leaf and anise add a mouthwatering aspect to the finish. Impressive. Best from 2024 through 2038. From California."
    — James Molseworth, Wine Spectator

  • Vineyard

    H.W. Crabb came to California looking for gold but stayed to become one of the pioneers of Napa Valley winemaking. He named his estate To Kalon Vineyard, Greek for Highest Beauty, because of the lush bounty it provided. Soon, his wines became renowned around the world. And over the last 150 years, the vineyard's consistent fine quality has made it one of the most coveted in the world.

    Sited between the sheltering Vaca and Mayacamas mountain ranges deep in the valley, the vineyard has well-drained, gravelly soil that allows the vines to root deeply to find precious moisture and nutrients. The broad diurnal temperature shifts and reliable sun, wind, and fog provide the ideal blend of growth and rest for complex flavor development.