98-Points by Jeb Dunnuck.
Another incredibly concentrated, focused, insanely impressive wine in the lineup is the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, which offers a powerful nose of darker currants, scorched earth, graphite, and savory herb aromas and flavors. This full-bodied, dense, concentrated, powerful, inward beauty needs 4-6 years in the cellar but will age forever.
Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot
 
98-Points by Owen Bargreen.
The world-class 2021 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon can benefit from a long decant. Once aroused this offers black currant cordial and creme de violette flavors that meld well with the stony accents, with touches of graphite and black cherry compote. The beautiful purple and black floral aromatics add to the enjoyment as this beauty could really use another year in the cellar prior to enjoying.
 
Winemaker Notes~Chris Carpenter
The 2021 season began with very little rain, and spring and summer were mild. Interestingly, because the heavy wildfire smoke during 2020 decreased the vineyards’ exposure to sunlight, the vines were set up to give us lower yields in the new season. So for 2021 there is less wine but just phenomenal character. This Cabernet Sauvignon is generous with ripe blackberry on toast and earthy notes of soil, sage, pine, and graphite. The midpalate is weighty and the finish delivers great length.
 
Chris Carpenter named Master Winemaker of the Year 2024, representing Mt. Brave and Hickinbotham Wines, took the top prize as db unveiled the new edition of the Master Winemaker 100. 
Carpenter, along with 99 other winemakers, features in the 2024 edition of the Master Winemaker 100. The volume, published by the drinks business, rewards the very best winemakers, as determined by the Global Wine Masters competitions in Paris.
Carpenter won that overall award in recognition of winning two Master medals at a single competition, the Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2023. This, a remarkable feat in itself, is all the more impressive given that they came from two estates on two different continents. Both the Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, made in Napa Valley, and Hickinbotham Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, from McLaren Vale, secured the top medal.
 
La Jota Vineyards
La Jota Vineyards is a small-production, premium winery on Howell Mountain (Napa Valley) that focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, including a limited single-vineyard W.S. Keyes Merlot tied to early Howell Mountain pioneer W.S. Keyes. Founded in 1898 by Frederick Hess and named after the Rancho La Jota land grant, the winery earned international awards in the early 1900s before shutting down during Prohibition. It was revived in 1975 by Bill Smith and later sold in 2003 to Jackson Family Wines (makers of Kendall-Jackson). The estate includes about 28 acres (11 hectares) across three vineyards—Hill, Winery Block (both planted in the 1970s), and Meadow (planted in the 1990s)—planted mainly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.