Neal Family Vineyards

Neal Family Vineyards is a Howell Mountain estate producing concentrated, age-worthy Cabernets with Aaron Pott lending his celebrated consulting talent to volcanic hillside fruit that few winemakers in the valley have access to. Founded in 2000 by Mark and Jill Neal, the estate occupies 25 acres of the rugged Howell Mountain terrain, where thin volcanic soils and above-fog-line elevation create the conditions of extreme natural stress that produce some of the most powerful and mineral-driven Cabernets in the valley. Aaron Pott, whose mountain-wine expertise spans multiple Napa appellations, adds another prestigious address to his consulting portfolio.

The 25-acre vineyard sits on volcanic soils at elevations that place it above the valley fog, where intense direct sunlight and wide temperature swings between day and night produce fruit of deep concentration. The rocky terrain is difficult to farm, requiring hand labor at every stage, but the resulting grapes are small, thick-skinned, and intensely flavored. The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel, with the Zinfandel providing an unusual addition to the portfolio that reflects the estate's willingness to explore beyond the expected mountain varieties.

Aaron Pott crafts the wines with the mountain expertise that defines his consulting career. The Howell Mountain Cabernet is the flagship, a wine of volcanic intensity with dark fruit, firm tannins, and the graphite-and-iron minerality that marks Howell Mountain's finest wines. The Zinfandel, from the mountain's volcanic soils, shows a structure and complexity that shatters the variety's soft-and-fruity stereotype. The Sauvignon Blanc, from the estate's cooler sections, provides a refreshing white wine option. All wines are built for aging, though the Zinfandel can be enjoyed younger.

Tastings at Neal Family are by appointment and take place on the Howell Mountain estate, where the volcanic terrain and forest setting create a wild, beautiful atmosphere. The experience is intimate and educational, with the staff explaining how the mountain's geology shapes the wines. Aaron Pott's involvement adds credibility, and visitors familiar with his other mountain clients can compare the Neal Family expressions with wines from different mountain appellations. The $75 fee reflects the mountain location and the quality.

Neal Family demonstrates that Howell Mountain continues to reveal new vineyard sites capable of producing world-class Cabernet. Aaron Pott's involvement signals the quality of the terroir, and the wines confirm that the mountain's volcanic soils can produce wines of power, mineral complexity, and genuine aging potential from estates beyond the appellation's most famous addresses.