Includes one each of Higher Education Series The Scholar, The Graduate, The Valedictorian, and The PH. D. We are thrilled to have released the full lineup of our "Higher Education" series! With each exceptional vintage, we will explore a specific sub-appellation in the Napa Valley and showcase its uniqueness, finesse, and power. For the 2014 vintage we focused on Howell Mountain, specifically a vineyard farmed by the renowned winegrowers of Ladera. Over the past 20 years Ladera has earned a reputation for growing some of the greatest Mountain Cabernet Sauvignons. Ladera has been a champion of a balanced expression of Howell Mountain, where smooth structured tannins, excellent natural acidity and layered complexity adds sophistication to the intensity of mountain fruit. In keeping with the years of tradition established by our flagship brand Educated Guess, these Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons answer to the names of The Scholar, The Graduate, The Valedictorian, and The Ph.D. All were aged in Seguin Moreau and Francois Freres French oak barrels for 24 months and classically showcase the rich soils and unique micro-climate conditions of the vineyards. Our Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignons are elegant and balanced and individually express delicious dark red fruit, cocoa and rich layers of oak. The Scholar: The 2014 Scholar a wonderful wine that begins our reserve wine series, blending 90% Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Coombsville Merlot. It is a beautifully crafted wine that bursts from the glass with intense black cherry, currant liquor, mocha, and crushed violets. Concentrated flavors of exotic spice and roasted sage pair amazingly well with tiers of freshly crushed black and blue fruits. The small touches of Merlot provide just the right amount of grace and softness to create refined tannins and a long lasting finish. The Graduate: The 2014 Graduate is composed of 95% Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Coombsville Merlot. Always our favorite in our blending sessions, it offers seductive aromas of wild fruits, cassis and warm blackberry pie that invites you in for more. Hints of freshly shaved chocolate, pencil shavings, and ripe fruit compote mesh well with soft robust tannins that provide for a mouthwatering finish. The Valedictorian: The 2014 Valedictorian is a fantastic blend of 85% Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Coombsville Merlot. Deep, brooding flavors of preserved plum and blackberry pie are accented perfectly with hints of cedar and mocha. Layers of minerality, graphite, and wild berries make this a rich and full-bodied wine. A splash of Merlot provides a satin-like finish. The PH. D.: The 2014 Ph.D. is the pinnacle of our reserve wine series. A wine for the purist, it is 100% Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a muscular wine that offers a bounty of both fruit and earth driven aromatics. Bursts of black currant and blackberry fruit leap from the glass. Notes of chocolate, graphite, and wild fruit layer themselves together seamlessly. Cocoa and hits of oak grace the palate as tiers of rich, exotic flavors unfold, providing a satisfying backbone.