2009 Dunn, Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain 1x750ml

Vinous 94

Bright, saturated red-ruby. Very youthful, Pauillac-like aromas of cassis, blueberry, minerals, bitter chocolate and tobacco leaf. Densely packed and seamless but youthfully imploded, conveying a strong impression of saline minerality to its flavors of plum, dark berries, mocha and graphite. There’s a sexy pliancy here but owing to its medicinal and mineral elements this big wine practically tastes like a barrel sample. Wonderfully thick, plush and dry, finishing with substantial but thoroughly buffered tannins and outstanding slow-building length and captivating sweetness. (13.9% alcohol) [Stephen Tanzer, 25/07/2019]

Anticipated maturity: 2024-2037

Robert Parker 96

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain has more energy and focus than the Napa Valley bottling. Iron, graphite, red fruits, dried flowers are some of the many notes that take shape in this deep, complex, powerful wine. I imagine the 2009 will still be spectacular at age 30. For now, it needs at least another handful of years of cellaring to drink well. Huge veins of minerality support the huge fruit, giving the wine much of its pure tension and vitality. This is going to be a fascinating wine to follow over the coming decades. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039. Randy Dunn’s two 2009s are quite different from each other in this vintage, something that isn’t always the case. That’s good news for Dunn fans, as the 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the estate’s few recent releases that won’t take ages to be accessible. The Howell Mountain Cabernet is classic Dunn, with maybe just a little more polish than some other recent vintages. As always, the Dunn Cabernets stand apart from the vast majority of wines being made in Napa Valley for their huge, tannic structures and aging potential, something that is especially true for the flagship Howell Mountain bottling. Tel. (707) 965-3642 [Antonio Galloni, 27/12/2012]

Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039