Hundred Acre
Ark Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain
2009
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2016-2037).
In 2026, the Hundred Acre Ark Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 is at peak, entering its tenth year of prime drinking. This is the most celebrated wine in the Hundred Acre portfolio - the only bottling from any of the estate's sites to earn a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker, and the wine that permanently established the Ark Vineyard as one of California's elite single-vineyard Cabernet sites. Ten years into peak in 2026, the wine is beginning to deliver on what that extraordinary young profile promised. The monumental tannins that made this wine imposing and dense on release have slowly composed themselves over a decade of bottle aging, and the black cassis, blackberry jam, cedar, and dark mocha that defined the aromatic display are now joined by complex secondary notes of dried tobacco, iron mineral evolution, and the kind of cedar integration that only comes from genuine age. The wine remains a large, serious Cabernet - nothing about the 2009 Ark Vineyard will ever be described as light - but in 2026 the concentration is accessible in a way that it was not in the wine's first decade. With 11 years remaining in the peak window through 2037, there is no urgency to open this wine, but 2026 delivers a genuinely rewarding experience.
The ‘09 Ark Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
The only Hundred Acre wine to earn a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker, the Ark Vineyard 2009 arrives in 2026 at ten years of peak with its monumental tannins beginning to yield to extraordinary depth and 11 years of prime drinking ahead.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Deep, impenetrable garnet-black with a concentration that announces itself before the first nose: this is a wine of extraordinary ambition and scale. The nose delivers on that promise with a cascade of black cassis, blackberry jam, cedar, and dark mocha that fills the glass with an aromatic intensity the most exceptional Howell Mountain harvests produce. Ten years of bottle age have added layers of dried tobacco, iron mineral evolution, and cedar integration that give the 2009 a complexity that pure power never could have produced alone. On the palate the wine delivers extraordinary density and extract: the tannins that Parker described as monumental are now composed and integrating rather than asserting, yet they retain the structural backbone that promises another decade of evolution. Vibrant acidity and iron-mineral tension run through the entire palate, keeping the wine lifted and energized through the massive extract. The finish is long, complex, and persistent. A wine of historic quality for this appellation and the benchmark against which all subsequent Ark Vineyard vintages are measured.
The 2009 vintage
The 2009 Napa Valley vintage earned a Wine Spectator Classic rating of 96 points from a growing season that surprised even those who tracked it closely. The season was late and cool through much of its course - weather patterns that typically indicate a modest outcome - yet the late-season conditions yielded what Wine Spectator described as a surprise bounty of pure, opulent wines of exceptional quality. The combination of a cool growing season that preserved natural acidity and a late-season warmth that delivered full phenolic ripeness produced wines across the valley with unusual completeness: opulent fruit concentration, vibrant acidity, and the structural backbone that extended cellaring demands. At the Ark Vineyard on Howell Mountain, the 2009's particular combination of late-season warmth and naturally cool Howell Mountain elevation produced a fruit concentration and structural intensity that Robert Parker rated at the perfect 100-point level - the highest possible recognition for a wine of its appellation and the defining moment in Hundred Acre's critical history.
About Hundred Acre
Jayson Woodbridge has said that the 2009 Ark Vineyard represents the Howell Mountain terroir at its most complete expression - a vintage where the site's naturally rocky volcanic soils, extreme crop reduction, and old-vine intensity aligned with a growing season of unusual opulence to produce something unprecedented at this address. The wine's perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker made it a landmark for both the Hundred Acre estate and the Howell Mountain appellation. Woodbridge's winemaking approach at the Ark Vineyard centers on extracting the iron mineral character of the volcanic terroir through small open-top fermentation, extended maceration with carefully managed punch-downs, and aging in new French oak that supports the site's natural structural depth without overwhelming it. In 2009, the raw material the vineyard delivered was so concentrated and complete that the challenge was preservation rather than extraction. Production remains strictly limited and available exclusively through the mailing list.
From the cellar: pair with
Dry-Aged Ribeye with Black Truffle Compound Butter
The wine's extraordinary density and iron-mineral backbone match the rich marbling of dry-aged beef while the black cassis and dark mocha aromatics complement the earthy black truffle at the same weight class.
Braised Short Rib with Dark Chocolate and Espresso Glaze
The wine's dark mocha and blackberry jam concentration find direct counterparts in the braised preparation; the monumental but composed tannins match the collagen richness of braised short rib without clashing.
Aged Pecorino Toscano or Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano
The wine's massive extract and iron mineral precision are balanced by the crystalline, savory depth of aged Italian hard cheese; the fat and salt soften the tannin without diminishing the wine's authority.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 62-65F (17-18C)
- Decanting
- Decant 2 to 3 hours in 2026. Despite being ten years into peak, the 2009 Ark Vineyard retains the extraordinary density and structural scale of a wine built at the 100-point level, and it requires generous aeration to fully reveal its aromatic complexity. Pour into a wide-bottomed decanter at least 2 hours before serving - ideally 3 hours - and expect the black cassis, blackberry jam, and dark mocha aromatics to emerge progressively as the wine breathes. The wine will continue to evolve in the glass throughout a long dinner. Serve at 62-65F.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, on its side in a vibration-free environment.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Napa Valley, California, USA
Frequently Asked
When is the best time to drink the Hundred Acre Ark Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2009?
In 2026 this wine is at peak, entering its tenth year of prime drinking, with 11 years of optimal enjoyment remaining through 2037. Ten years into peak is a meaningful threshold for the 2009 - the monumental tannins that defined this perfect 100-point wine on release are now composed and integrating, making 2026 the first year the wine is fully accessible without the imposing density of its youth. Those who prefer maximum secondary complexity should continue holding through 2030. See [Napa Valley wines](/wines/region/napa-valley) for context on the exceptional 2009 opulent vintage.
Should I decant the 2009 Ark Vineyard before serving?
Decant 2 to 3 hours in 2026. Despite being ten years into peak, the 2009 retains the extraordinary density of a wine built at the 100-point level and requires generous aeration to fully reveal its complexity. Pour into a wide-bottomed decanter at least 2 hours before serving - the black cassis, blackberry jam, and dark mocha aromatics emerge progressively as the wine breathes. The wine continues to evolve in the glass throughout a long dinner. Serve at 62-65F.
Why did the 2009 Ark Vineyard earn a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker?
Parker awarded the 2009 Ark Vineyard 100 points for an unmatched combination of richness, structure, and terroir expression - extraordinary density and extract while retaining iron-mineral tension and vibrant acidity characteristic of Howell Mountain. The 2009 Napa vintage was itself exceptional: Wine Spectator rated it WS 96 Classic for producing a surprise bounty of pure, opulent wines from a late, cool year. The combination of the vintage's unusual opulence and the site's concentrated old-vine fruit produced a wine critics recognized as historic. See [Cabernet Sauvignon wines](/wines/varietal/cabernet-sauvignon) for broader context.
How does the 2009 Ark Vineyard compare to other vintages from this site?
The 2009 is the most celebrated Ark Vineyard ever produced and the benchmark against which all subsequent vintages are measured. The power and opulence of the 2009 stand in deliberate contrast to the more angular, precise style of the [Hundred Acre Ark Vineyard 2010](/wines/hundred-acre/ark-vineyard-cabernet-sauvignon/2010), which reflects the cooler, more structured 2010 Napa vintage, and the haunting precision of the [Hundred Acre Ark Vineyard 2011](/wines/hundred-acre/ark-vineyard-cabernet-sauvignon/2011), which defied the difficult year. The 2009 represents Howell Mountain Cabernet at its most powerful and opulent.
How long can I cellar the 2009 Hundred Acre Ark Vineyard?
The 2009 has a peak window running through 2037, with hard decline not expected until 2046. In 2026 the wine has 11 years of optimal drinking remaining. The monumental structure of a 100-point wine with extraordinary density ensures the 2009 will evolve slowly and reliably through the 2030s - expect the primary black cassis and blackberry jam to develop further toward dried fruit, tobacco, and iron mineral complexity. Store at 55F, 60-70% humidity, on its side in a vibration-free environment.