2020 Turk Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Cliffhanger Napa Valley

NO. Even if that’s the one it is, I wouldn’t tell you.”

That’s how the information-extraction waltz began, outside Fatted Calf with our longtime colleague David, interrogating him between sips of his 2020 Turk Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Cliffhanger.

“This is gorgeous,” we said. The wine was full of supple and cool black fruit like plum and black cherry, bolstered by firm tannin. It was obviously from a manicured vineyard—and perfectly ripened fruit—on Howell Mountain. 

“Keyes?” Silence. “Bancroft Ranch?”

“C’mon man. We’ve known each other since 2006. I won’t sell you out.”  

“Ok, Ok,” he said. “It’s a well-known site not far from Dunn. It’s not usually known for Cabernet Sauvignon, because this Cab usually goes into a mailing-list only bottling,” he said. “In 2020, Kevin was able to peel off a few tons. That’s all I can tell you!” he said, wincing.

Bingo. We had everything we needed to know, except the price. Once we extracted that from our friend, we struggled to maintain a poker face. This one was going to be big. 

The winemaker behind Turk is Kevin Morrisey, who so impressed his peers and instructors at UC Davis that he secured an internship at Chateau Petrus in 1997. Not long after, he went to work for Tony Soter at Etude, and soon enough he was the winemaking director at Stags Leap Winery, where he stayed for nine years. Refinement and richness are Kevin’s calling cards. This vineyard, with parsimonious yields of only 1.3 tons per acre, played right into his hands in 2020. Those low yields mean inky, concentrated wine.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Acidity
• Tannin

• ABV 15.20%
• 1 hour
• Now – 2030
• 90% Cabernet Sauvignon10% Merlot
• Serving temperature – 58°
• Cork