Ink Grade
2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
"Prophet’s Water"
Howell Mountain AVA
Auction 29 | Lot No. 189
Vintage: 2023
Ink Grade
Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain
10 cases produced
Highlights
- Crafted from one of our best blocks on Howell Mountain with volcanic soils, extreme slopes and high-elevation mountain fruit
- From terraced slopes on Howell Mountain, this wine possesses a raw tension that renders fruit of immense intensity and depth
- If ever there was a site which imparted a feeling of reverence, Ink Grade is such a place
Description
This wine was crafted from one of our best blocks on Howell Mountain with volcanic soils, extreme slopes and high-elevation mountain fruit. Sourced from terraced slopes, this wine possesses a raw tension that renders fruit of immense intensity and depth. If ever there was a site which imparted a feeling of reverence, Ink Grade is such a place.
Wine Facts
- Single vineyard wine
Matt Taylor
Winemaker, Ink Grade
Matt Taylor was born and raised in Sonoma County. Growing up, his parents did not drink, and he was first introduced to the world of wine by his best friend’s dad, Chris Bilbro, who owned Marietta Cellars in Geyserville. His earliest memories of wine would be mushroom hunting or pig hunting, followed by preparing a meal accompanied by a good bottle of wine. While in college, Matt played football at the University of Washington, winning a Pac-10 championship. However, after suffering two herniated disks in his back, Matt decided to give up the game and pursue winemaking.
Matt lived in Cádiz, Spain for nearly two years, where he was able to study and work in a Bodega in Jerez. Upon returning to the US, he was hired as assistant winemaker at Joseph Swan in the Russian River Valley, where he worked the 2000 and 2001 vintages. In 2001, he enrolled in Fresno State University where he earned his post-Baccalaureate degree in Viticulture & Enology. He focused on whole cluster while at Fresno State, which led him to meet Jeremy Seysses of Domaine Dujac. This meeting led to an internship at Domaine Dujac under Jacques Seysses for the 2004 vintage. Upon finishing his Viticulture & Enology degree, he joined Araujo Estate Wines to manage the vineyards and act as assistant winemaker to Francoise Peschon. The Araujos also allowed him to work harvests in Argentina and New Zealand. He would go on to become Head Winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Araujo Estate Wines.
After the 2010 vintage, Matt departed Araujo for two new endeavors: Reuling Vineyard, a Sonoma Coast project focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Front Porch Farm, an organic and biodynamic farm where Matt converted the vineyards to grafted Rhone varieties.
From 2014 to 2018, Matt joined Napa Valley winery Chamboulé, where his tenure was crucial to his development, in terms of research, making wines naturally, and his stylistic approach to winemaking. Matt would go on to form his own project, Matt Taylor Wines, focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the West Sonoma Coast and a soon-to-be added Loire-based component. He has also made wines for 32 Winds Wines in Healdsburg, a boutique winery specializing in Sonoma County grapes.
In March 2020, Matt joined Lawrence Wine Estates as winemaker for Ink Grade, a new label launching in September 2021. The Ink Grade Estate Vineyard lies in the north-east corner of the Howell Mountain AVA in Napa Valley, boasting scenic views of forested pines and sequoia and rendering pure, intense fruit.
Country born: United States
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Total Wine & More
6600 Rockledge Drive Suite 150
Bethesda MD 20817
301-547-0757
Other Premiere Napa Valley Wines available from Total Wine & More:
| Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Nova Cellars | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Diamond Mountain District | AG Vineyard 1 of 1 | 29 (2025) |
| Amici Cellars | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Beckstoffer Heritage Blend | 29 (2025) |
| Antinori Napa Valley | 2023 | Red Table Wine | Atlas Peak | A27 The Next Generation of Antinori | 29 (2025) |
| Axios | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 29 (2025) | |
| Barnett Vineyards | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Spring Mountain District | Rattlesnake Blend | 29 (2025) |
| Beau Vigne | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Titania | 29 (2025) |
| Bella Union | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 29 (2025) | |
| Cakebread Cellars | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Suscol Mountain Vineyard | 29 (2025) |
| Chappellet Vineyard | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Upper Terraces | 29 (2025) |
| Clos du Val | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Cypress District | 29 (2025) |
| Faust | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | The Pact | 29 (2025) |
| Favia | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Scalene Dream | 29 (2025) |
| Foley Johnson | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Peral Vineyard | 29 (2025) |
| Gallica, Snowden Vineyards, Trois Noix | 2023 | Cabernet Franc | Napa Valley | Phenolic Femmes | 29 (2025) |
| Grgich Hills Estate, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Re-Generation | 29 (2025) |
| Inglenook | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Heritage Blocks | 29 (2025) |
| Ink Grade | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | Prophet’s Water | 29 (2025) |
| JaM Cellars | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | 29 (2025) | |
| Kerr Cellars | 2023 | Merlot | Napa Valley | Sideways | 29 (2025) |
| Long Meadow Ranch Winery | 2023 | Cabernet Franc | Napa Valley | 29 (2025) | |
| Miner Family Winery | 2023 | Cabernet Franc | Napa Valley | P&J Vineyard | 29 (2025) |
| Napa De Oro | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | AU79 | 29 (2025) |
| Nickel & Nickel | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | John C. Sullenger | 29 (2025) |
| PlumpJack Winery | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 29 (2025) | |
| Quintessa | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Corona | 29 (2025) |
| S. R. Tonella Cellars | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 29 (2025) | |
| Saintsbury | 2024 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | Georgie | 29 (2025) |
| Shafer Vineyards | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Sunspot Vineyard | 29 (2025) |
| Silver Oak | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | State Lane Legacy | 29 (2025) |
| Silverado Vineyards | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Caldera | 29 (2025) |
| Spoto Family Wines | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Family Reserve | 29 (2025) |
| Stag's Leap Wine Cellars | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Judgment of Paris 50th Anniversary | 29 (2025) |
| TATE | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Mount Veeder | 29 (2025) | |
| Titus Vineyards | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 29 (2025) | |
| Volker Eisele Family Estate | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Chiles Valley District | 29 (2025) | |
| ZD Wines | Non-vintage | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Petit Abacus | 29 (2025) |
| Amici Cellars | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Fire & Ice | 28 (2024) |
| Baldacci Family Vineyards, Chimney Rock Winery, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Quixote Winery | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Stags Leap Unleashed | 28 (2024) |
| Beaulieu Vineyard | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Maître Cuvée | 28 (2024) |
| Bella Union | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 28 (2024) | |
| Belle Glos | 2022 | Pinot Noir | Napa Valley | Eulenloch | 28 (2024) |
| Bougetz Cellars | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | 28 (2024) | |
| Burgess Cellars, Heitz Cellar, Stony Hill Vineyard | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Founder's Cuvée | 28 (2024) |
| Cakebread Cellars | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Suscol Ranches | 28 (2024) |
| Chimney Rock Winery | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Swan Song | 28 (2024) |
| Davies, Diamond Creek, Diamond Mountain, Dyer, The Vineyardist, Wallis | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Diamond Mountain District | Diamond Mountain Six | 28 (2024) |
| Duckhorn Vineyards | 2022 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Three Palms Vineyard Red Blend | 28 (2024) |
| Far Niente | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 28 (2024) | |
| Faust | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Coombsville | THE PACT | 28 (2024) |
| Foley Johnson, PEJU | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Heart of the Valley | 28 (2024) |
| Freemark Abbey | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | 28 (2024) | |
| Ghost Block Estate Wines | 2022 | Red Table Wine | Yountville | Maratona | 28 (2024) |
| Monticello Vineyards | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Yewell Vineyard | 28 (2024) |
| Nickel & Nickel | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | John C. Sullenger Vineyard | 28 (2024) |
| Pine Ridge Vineyards | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Trailblazer | 28 (2024) |
| Red Thread Wines, Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | 28 (2024) | |
| Robert Mondavi Winery | 2022 | Red Table Wine | Oakville | To Kalon Vineyard | 28 (2024) |
| Rombauer Vineyards | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Stice Lane | 28 (2024) |
| Saintsbury | 2023 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | Lee Vineyard | 28 (2024) |
| Shafer Vineyards | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Sunspot Vineyard | 28 (2024) |
| Silver Oak | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Echoes of Exceptionality | 28 (2024) |
| Spring Mountain Vineyard | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Spring Mountain District | Vista 42 | 28 (2024) |
| TATE | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Jack's Blend | 28 (2024) |
| Women Winemakers | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Women Winemakers | 28 (2024) |
| Acumen | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 5.71 Carats | 27 (2023) |
| Baldacci Family Vineyards | 2021 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | Assemblage V | 27 (2023) |
| Beau Vigne | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Titania | 27 (2023) |
| Belle Glos | 2021 | Pinot Noir | Napa Valley | Eulenloch | 27 (2023) |
| Cain Vineyard & Winery | 2021 | Red Table Wine | Spring Mountain District | The Phoenix Rises | 27 (2023) |
| Davies Vineyards | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Diamond Mountain District | J. Davies Tres Bloques | 27 (2023) |
| Frank Family Vineyards | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Winston Hill Block 5 - Heart Block | 27 (2023) |
| Ghost Block Estate Wines | 2021 | Red Wine | Yountville | Maratona | 27 (2023) |
| Groth Vineyards & Winery | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Sweet Spot | 27 (2023) |
| La Jota Vineyard Co. | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | 27 (2023) | |
| Miner Family Winery | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Bonny’s Vineyard | 27 (2023) |
| Monticello Vineyards | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Tietjen Vineyard | 27 (2023) |
| Quilt | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 27 (2023) | |
| Quintessa | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Mt. Calisse | 27 (2023) |
| Robert Mondavi Winery | 2021 | Red Wine | Oakville | To Kalon Vineyard | 27 (2023) |
| Rutherford Ranch Winery | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Abela Vineyard Charlie's Reserve | 27 (2023) |
| Silver Oak | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Heritage Homecoming | 27 (2023) |
| TATE | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Tetz Vineyard | 27 (2023) |
| The Vice | 2020 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | The Cowboy of Wall Street | 27 (2023) |
| William Cole Vineyards | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Smoking Gun | 27 (2023) |
Winery Distribution
Ink Grade is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Domestic:
- Alabama (Alabama Crown)
- Arizona (SGWS)
- California (SGWS)
- Colorado (SGWS)
- Connecticut (Brescome Barton)
- Florida (SGWS)
- Georgia (RNDC)
- Hawaii (RNDC)
- Illinois (SGWS)
- Indiana (RNDC)
- Kansas (Standard)
- Kentucky (Heidelberg)
- Louisiana (RNDC)
- Massachusetts (Martignetti)
- Michigan (Great Lakes)
- Montana (Summit)
- Nevada (SGWS)
- New Hampshire (Martignetti)
- New Jersey (Fedway)
- New York (SGWS)
- Ohio (Heidelberg)
- Oklahoma (SGWS)
- Pennsylvania (SGWS)
- Rhode Island (Horizon)
- South Carolina (SGWS)
- Tennessee (SGWS)
- Texas (SGWS)
- Virginia (RNDC)
- Washington (RNDC)
- Wisconsin (Prestige)
International:
- Bermuda (Gosling's Ltd.)
- Canada (Icon Fine Wines)
- Caribbean (Jacques Scott)
- Caribbean (Arion Wine Co.)
- Caribbean (Bacchus)
- Germany (Unger Weine)
- Japan (Toko Trading)
- Mexico (Great Fine Wines)
- Norway (Vinarius)
- Philippines (Wine Straits)
- Puerto Rico (Plaza Cellars)
- Singapore (Excaliber)
- South Korea (Nara Cellars)
- Sweden (Vinunic AB)
- Switzerland (Martel AG)
- Thailand (Vanichwathana)
- United Arab Emirates (Hart's International)
- United Kingdom (Berry Bros. & Rudd)