PnP. Drank along side the ‘96. Very similar appearance. The nose on the ‘00 was stronger with sweet notes like cocoa powder and graphite. Palate had more darker cherries and vanilla. This was clearly a notch above the ‘96.
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86 is generous. Birth year wine for my eldest graduation. War Damn Eagle! But the wine was more like a Bama fan, old, tired and out of date, reminiscing of Gene Stallings, well before St. Nick arrived. My daughter can enjoy the last bottle without me. Thankfully, an ‘04 awaits in two weeks for another graduation!
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Tasted blind I thought it was flawed. A few at the table didn't like it but didn't think it was defective. I think there was VA in this. There was a nail polish, band-aid along with a very flat, dull palate compared to everything else. Maybe it was a bad bottle.
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Not sure what to think about this bottle, it wasn't what I expected. Very funky and medicinal upon opening, with what seemed like VA perhaps, very lean and marked by the absence of fruit, I wasn't particularly pleased. Not sure if other people who tasted were being polite because it was my bottle but it didn't seem to bother them as much as me!
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Medicinal red fruit aromas. lots of floral/pollen sweetness on the nose too. super fresh palate, medium minus tannin. The medicinal red fruit strays close to band-aid and is decidedly barnyard too. maybe not the most pristine/representative Dunn Howell, but still enjoyable all around. Thanks JB!
10 Year Tasting @ Cobble (1997-2006) Really nice body and finish. The nose was a little much when first poured, and taste was good but didn’t develop as much as some of the other vintages
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Much better than the last bottle I tried. This time I decanted for several hours and, more importantly, adjusted my attitude: older bottle, decent but not perfect cellaring, okay vintage. I was rewarded with a graceful, still healthy if not robust, totally enjoyable mountain cab. All kinds of lovely secondary notes emerging, like cedar, leather, and graphite. Tiny, grainy tannins. My friend -- who is used to big young Napa fruit bombs -- adored it and bogarted three quarters of the bottle.
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Was initially very excited for this bottle. Let it breathe over the course of a couple hours. However, it never really sang for me and the body seemed super thin. Maybe the bottle wasn't great, not sure.
Color is deep ruby. Medium intensity. Aromas of black cherry, stewed raspberries and blackberries, dried flowers, leather, bits cedar. Spice box notes. Palate: tannins are medium soft and mature. Acidity is medium. Body is medium- feels very thin and feels over the hill. Finish is medium. Flavor are black cherry, spice box, cedar, leather, tobacco leaf, prune, tea leaves. Dried flowers.
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Blind tasting with buds (Washington, DC): My contribution. I couldn't have been happier with how this showed. Dark currants still going on the nose, lots of them, with a complex mix of spice cake, clove, mint, graphite, leather, bookshelves - lots going on. Crisp acidity balances well with the tannins, which still provide solid structure, on a medium-bodied frame. Red and black currants, topped in mint, graphite, menthol, cocoa, with mineral and earth undertones. Some savory spice notes coming out. Refined and balanced. The blind tasting guesses from others centered around Cab Franc-heavy, Right Bank Bordeaux from the early 00s, but one friend guessed Napa Cab from an "old school" producer.
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Good saturated nose; slightly tannic, good length; moderate mouth with mostly earth notes rather than overt fruit. Kevin found the light mouth to be a good point while I found it to be... light. I’d have preferred a bit of overt fruit with my earth and vegetables but no matter, good as it was.
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Randy Dunn's wines are comprised of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 32 months in 100% new French oak. From a magnum purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion, this wine was double-decanted (including use of a Vinturi aerator), allowing two hours in decanter prior to funneling back into the cleansed bottle. It was subsequently served at a dinner party, where it was serially sampled over approximately three hours. Still a youthful deep ruby/red, it retains a nucleus of black currant fruit, adding notes of dried herbs, iodine, earth, tobacco and licorice. Full bodied, seamlessly alcoholic (13.6%) and with medium-to-high acidity, it retains plentiful tannins that have further integrated since my last tasting 2/13/2016. Dense on the mid-palate, it goes on to close with a lengthy finish that is still a bit tart but no longer overtly astringent. This is certainly a success for the vintage but is not as fleshy as Dunn Howell Mountain Cabs from better vintages. Well-cellared magnums such a this will last at least another decade. Drink now-2030.
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Similar notes as previous tastings. The "Pros" clearly under estimated where this wine was going, even after nearly twenty years. No, it is not the best Cabernet Dunn has produced, it is not the most concentrated wine Dunn has produced, it is not the most complex wine Dunn has produced. This is just a wonderful cabernet to drink with food, still plenty of dark fruits and nuances, well balanced, and a silky medium to long finish. Aging gracefully from a poor vintage, this is a clear indication of what Dunn Cabernets can be in a great vintage and a lot of aging.
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Drank over several hours, this had a very deep, complex, alluring nose, cassis, soy, menthol, charcuterie, beef stock. The palate very youthful (in spite of being in transition to predominantly secondary), vibrant and intense, syrupy, cassis and soy with truffle and cherry liqueur, acidity verging on shrill and very much still a tannic behemoth. This is a very good Cabernet which cellared correctly is probably still 10-20 years from its apogee, but at the same time reminds me of why I rarely touch Cabernet and love Burgundy...
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Alas, I’m sure it’s because I cellared it less than meticulously, but this bottle definitely summited a while ago and is now well into a valley on the other side. I was so in denial, I tried twice in two days, but no, it’s all hard edges and tough love.
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Tannins refined but with a bit of a burn on the front end...very odd for this wine..while very drinkable I’m not sure the alcohol hasn’t overcome residual fruit.
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Still a lovely wine. I decanted for 2 hours and it kept evolving in the glass. I initially agreed with those who said it was not getting any better but this wine requires patience and the mid palate showed up beautifully, it just took time. Very pretty soft red berry and slightly meaty pencil shaving-ish nose, As it evolved in the glass it came together well. The finish is long herbal and gorgeous. I ate this with a grilled grass fed ribeye and some simple roasted red potatoes
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Similar notes as previous tastings - "Deep berry fruit in the nose with blackberries, currants, licorice, and earthiness. Plums, blackberries, and black cherries in the flavor. Medium to long finish."
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Took to restaurant and waiter shattered the cork, so ended up with a decant. Much better than last bottle, more fruit and earthy notes and less acid, though still restrained. Definitely HM. Drank over 2 hrs, no improvement over time.
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AG hit this right. Decent but definitely an off year for Dunn HM. Earth, dirt, pine, red acidic fruit. Tannins and oak receded, but this has a lot of acid. Too much acid. 89 is a gift.
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Really didn’t like this wine. Tasted hot, with little fruit. Not tasty at all. Off nose - intense oak, cedary flavor. Can’t believe others rated it higher - maybe it was a bad bottle.
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This wine has classic Dunn aromatics and flavors. You wouldn't miss this in a blind tasting. I always find this wine to be to sharp, like vitamin C. If you like Dunn Cab you like this fine but I think the style is not for me.....
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Crimson in color. 13.6% ABV. Powerful nose of red fruits, leather and fresh mint. Big and structured on the palate with fading fruits and substantial tannins. Dried cherries, currants, plums and pencil lead on the palate. The finish is long with coarse tannins. This wine is everything you expect from Randy Dunn in size and structure but just does not match up to the better vintages of the late 90's and early 00's. Drink over the next several years.
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A generous gift from some restaurant staff after a big night, I found this fully mature and highly approachable, with notes of forest floor, currants, black raspberry and leather. No greenness or other vintage negatives that I could discern.
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Stewed red and black fruit, a bit plain and simple, with an unpleasant sharp meaty/leathery component towards the finish. Felt a bit awkward. Not sure if it's the vintage but didn't feel this delivered much.
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Opened in bottle for 3 hours plus. Initially lots of mossy forest floor that blew off leaving earthy red fruit, aged leather, wet wood, and menthol. Still plenty of acidity with several more years plus to go. Has to be the best example if 2000 Napa cab still alive.
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This was in great form, and truly impressive for the vintage - it's holding up remarkably well. Smoky aromas with earth and roasted red pepper (someone said creaky floorboards, and that's perfect, maybe with some old library books thrown in) on top of some black currant tea. Tannic backbone is still quite solid, but it's dusty and quite fresh, too. Black and red currants are laced with mushroom, soy, black tea, damp pine forest, pipe tobacco and aged leather. Complex, nuanced, held together well. Still time ahead but this was very nice.
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Lots of stewed blackfruit and forest floor at opening that sort of blew off in the decanter. Definately aged but still plenty of blackbone. Tons of aged leather, eucalyptus, wet cedar, smoke, and faint red fruit. Definately more enjoyable with red meat. Still has a few more years.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Blackberries, black currant, eucalyptus, sweet Oak with hints of spice. A smooth wine that is still in the prime of its drinking window. The 3 bottles opened were all consistent with each other and could likely have been served in good form 5 years from now.
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Lots of dust and dank. Leather, earth, old creaky floorboards. The nose is stinky like old socks. It's pretty fantastic. Decant a bit to let some of the heftier stank waft off, and dark fruits will eventually peek out just a little.
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The cork completely fell apart while opening, maybe I will finally invest in a Durand. Decanted and strained the wine. Palate was a nice dusty leather, mild fruit. On the palate it was similar to the nose but with a bitter aftertaste. A bit tannic also but n to be confused with the bitterness. I think a little oxidized with the dry cork. It improved a bit over the night and I really wanted to save a glass for day two but I was afraid it would fall apart. It was still good and very restrained, but not what I had hopeful for.
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So good for a 2000. Very subtle and balanced. Bordeaux style nose lots of cigar box on the nose. On the palate a bit of tobacco and earlobes but very balanced and nice mountain fruit. A long smooth finish
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Deep berry fruit in the nose with blackberries, currants, licorice, and earthiness. Plums, blackberries, and black cherries in the flavor. Medium to long finish.
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Howell Mountain Spring Wine Trade Tasting. The 2012 was unavailable for he tasting so two older vintages were poured. Nose of black cherry, plum, fig, and sage, more of the same on the palate, smooth, supple, lovely tasting, obviously properly stored and a pleasure to sip and savor, medium body, long, rich finish ending with sediment in the glass, tasted three times and enjoyed every minute of it.
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Valentine's Day Dinner Party Celebration (La Jolla, California): Time in the cellar has helped this wine, which still sports a youthful deep ruby robe. Double-decanted, allowing three hours in decanter prior to funneling back into the cleaned bottle, it was served at a dinner party and serially sampled over 3-4 hours. Still with front-and-center black currant fruit, it adds aromas and flavors of dried herbs, iodine, earth and licorice. Full-bodied and with medium-to-high acidity, it wraps its flavors with substantial tannins that are finally beginning to yield. The alcohol (listed as 13.6%) shows no heat and the middle palate is solid. Albeit lengthy, the finish remains tart and astringent. Considering the challenges of the vintage, this Howell Mountain offering is a success. That said, it does not measure up to its brethren from better vintages. Drink now-2030.
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As others have mentioned, this has a strong medicinal streak. I enjoy slightly green/herbal some would say under ripe cab, but this is a little too much even for me. Expressive leafy herbal/eucalyptus nose. Black currant on the palate, but very much in the background to a strong herbal/medicinal character. Finish with a stony black fruit and eucalyptus character. Quite polished and nuanced and if the fruit was to the fore I would think this may improve with the green notes becoming more "minty," but my guess is that the best days are behind and it is what it is. Has the expected nuance and balance of a high quality producer, just the unfavorable flavor profile of the vintage. Fine unobtrusive tannins. Decanted and seemed to pull together a bit at 6hrs air.
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DEEP BERRY FRUIT IN THE NOSE WITH BLACKBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, AND CURRANTS AND A TOUCH OF LICORICE. PLUMS, BLACKBERRIES, AND BLACK CHERRIES IN THE FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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Compared to the 2000 Howell Mountain, which was outstanding, this was quite a disappointment. Probably a weird phase, but I expect it's past its prime.
Blood red in color with some fading at the edge of the glass. 13.6% ABV. Dried red fruits, leather and graphite on the nose. Medium body. Tight and bruising on the palate. Flavors of cherries, currants, pencil and cassis. Drying, coarse tannins on a medium length finish. The word rustic comes to mind. Dunn always seems to walk a tightrope of tanns and fruit. In this case I think the tannins may ultimately outlive the fruit. Underwhelming if you are a fan of Dunn Howell Mountain from classic years like '91 and '94 but not bad considering the vintage. Drink over the next 2-4 years.
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Very Burgundian, lots of dry, tart red fruit, extremely ascetic on its own, demands a food pairing. Terrific with pasta bolognese (without red sauce), gets a little sweeter and more lush, but still pretty dry and stoic. Fun, possibly a bit past its prime by a year, needed 90+ minutes of decanting regardless to get a little more open and fun.
UPDATE: I drank the second half of this bottle after keeping it preserved with a nitrogen tap, and I didn't need to decant it at all! In fact, I'd say this is a pop-and-pour situation right now, so if you have it just start drinking on opening. I was much happier with it; the wine did fade a little after being open for 60-90 minutes, so I wish I had that first night back...
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This may have been an off bottle but here goes. I brought this to a dinner and decanted 4 hours. The nose was too medicinal and devoid of any fruit and the stuff one expects with a good cab. The first sip was light and lacked tannins and typical flavors. The 2nd sip was no better. I am sorry not to concur with everyone else because I wanted this to knock my socks off. I have a bottle of 97 so fingers are crossed..
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Hazy garnet - blood red. Closed, brooding bouquet of forest floor, blackberry bush, creosote. Full body with tight structure and firm tannins. Needs a few more years.
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I don't think a score is ever fair to rating a wine, but rather a reliable indicator (provided you have a similar palate to the judge). In the case of Dunn HM 2000, considering the lackluster growing conditions, it is a BRILLIANT WINE, leaving many of its peers in the dust. Bordeauxesque in style (terroir driven), it blows off whiffs of roasted coffeee, clay, and dried flowers, followed by a dusty, ripe plum favor. This is not a wine for people looking for big fruit. Its more of an intellectual drink. Starting to look dense, fleshly, and a bit tired..The finish is moderately short and the wine is probably not going to get better. Enjoy soon
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this was a better experience than my last bottle in 2011... the texture seemed less rough and the wine seemed pretty plush in general... wine seemed quite young for its age both visually and aromatically... still think it’s not the best vintage for this wine but i either underestimated it or got a better bottle.
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Agree with other recent notes. Drank very flat, and almost watery. Bit of fruit, but otherwise mellow and not the typical backbone of a Dunn Howell Mountain.
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3 hour decant and could have used more. Still had an initial flavor of bright cherry and then comes the expected Dunn barnyard flavors. Give this one a bit more time and it will be spectacular.
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Popped and poured. This is a medium ruby red, with a bit of sediment throughout the bottle (mostly mild levels until the very end). The nose carries scents of plum, an odd but not unpleasant slate/dirt smell, and some alcohol. In the mouth, there is a slight bit of mint and a sense of structure, but not much fruit – this reminds me of an aged Bordeaux from an average year. Overall, this is an elegant, enjoyable Cab, but may be past its prime. Drink soon. 91 points.
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This wine was drank alongside a bottle of 2000 Heitz Martha's Vineyard and was a disappointment. Cork was in pristine shape and had been stored well. Great color with mild bricking around the edges. No bouquet to speak of. I'm expecting good things to happen as wine has been laid down to be enjoyed later. There was no development, no aroma or bouquet. The wine was in balance aside from the lack of flavor or fruit. Next.
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Similar to most recent bottle. Good fruit, with heavy herbal notes that fade a bit with some air. Good structure and balance. Still has time ahead of it.
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This bottle was flawed. There was no nose to speak of, and the finish was sour grapes and dry and bitter almost like dirt. Purchased from winery one year ago and requested replacement (winery agreed to replace).
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This was my last bottle of 6. The wine has developed nicely. Hyper-decanted which helped a lot versus previous bottles. Herbal on the nose, some brick coloring on the edges, nice depth and finish. Very good bottle of wine.
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Deep crimson. With hardly any signs of aging. Dense and vital in color. After decanting the aromas were still locked. It took two hours until the wine opened up and presented its amazing line-up of aromas. Graphite and Mineral Characters. Parsley and other Herbs. Decent fruit, as Dark Berries. Freshly ground coffee. Some Tar and Floral characters. Enormous diversity served with great finesse! Earthy and Mineral characteristics. Cacao, Toasted Oak, Cloves with hints of Eucalypt. Beautiful Green facets. A little Fruit, Dark Berries and Cherries. Finishes medium-long with vibrant Acidity and present Tannins. Beautiful texture and mouthfeel! If you are patient, you´ll be rewarded. The wine needed time to open up and to show itself in an extraordinary way! This is not the “normal” fruit dominated Napa Valley Cabernet. Beautiful complexity and balance. See more details and pics in my Blog: cellartv.wordpress.com
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Fabulous...it may have been because it was at my daughters wedding, but this wine tasted far better than I remember it...Dunn can take a very long time to get ready to drink, but this one was great. Highly recommended.
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Deep red center, a red rim with only modest signs of age. Pretty, precise nose of graphite, charcoal, cherries, slightly underripe plums, toasty oak, dusty. Smooth, earthy, plums, a little vegetal (in a good way), acidity, oak and toasted wood, spicy, great length. Drinks well now, but might improve a little with age. May not appeal to those that like a more fruit forward Napa cab. Day 2: Opened up further, tapenade, cola, bark, loamy earth, excellent richness, balancing acidity and tannin, will develop further.
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Deep dark red center, red rim, no real signs of age. Bing and black cherries, herbs - dried basil, smoke, a little capsicum, dried black olives, meaty, rich. Restrained, cherries and some cassis, tapenade, dry, healthy tannin and acid, leafy/fruity long finish. Outstanding, very non-Napa cab, took about 4 hours to open up, much more old world style, drinks ok now but will improve over the next few years.
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Opened in restaurant so only had 60 minutes or so decanted to breathe, but never opened up: firm graphite, strong but flat fruit nose, same with palate and finish, which followed flat mid-notes. Nothing happening at all here. Opened up the '97 later to compare, same flatness, but a tad more open; maybe I'm just not a Dunn fan.
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This wine was splash-decanted and serially tasted over three hours. The robe is opaque crimson and the nose shows primary aromas of black currants, tar and chocolate. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium-to-high acidity and massive tannins which are somewhat coarse. The alcohol (listed as 13.6%) is acceptably integrated. The flavors mirror the nose and the middle palate is solid. Long but very tart and astringent finish. I'm not sure about this particular bottling. The acidity appears to be excessive and the tannins are certainly not supple. I would give this wine at least another 5 years before re-tasting. With time, it may merit a higher score, but I have concerns. Drink 1/16-12/30.
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I think there are some good notes on this wine below so will be brief, this wine is definitely a cold climate (high acidity and green slightly unripe, very coarse tannins) version of Dunn's Howell Mountain... certainly not a great vintage for them IMO as this wine tends towards these characteristics anyway... the wine is unmistakably Dunn with minerally, flinestone vitamin, greenish aromas... wine is a bit on the hard end of the balance scale, good length, great intensity, good complexity... not a ton of finesse, a hardish texture, and more Dunn than Howell Mountain in its expression of place... I suspect this wine is at its plateau where it will live comfortably for several years... not a crowd pleaser in the least but those who like Dunn's wines will find things to like in this wine... hmmm, not so brief after all.
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Certainly an off year for Dunn. The fruit is not very present on the nose or palate. Nose is typically Dunn like with the earthy mineral characteristics. On the palate the fruit is just not there and the finish is lacking.
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Impressive for the vintage and still has several years of life. Tannins mellowed as others have noted, found a sourness in the aftertaste that just put me off.
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Drinking rather well right now. Dark fruits showed up, some graphite, all tannins dropped out. There was a good amount of sediment on the side of the bottle. Definetly the time to enjoy this beauty.
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Deep purple color. Very narrow and deep in dark fruits. Hints of blueberry and blackberry evolving into strong notes of graphite and tobacco. Well resolved tannins and nice balance given this was young by Dunn standards.
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Finally.....I decanted a mag of this for about 3 hrs. Given that this is an 'off' vintage....maybe there is hope for the other 'good' years....as this wine is at last drinkable, without the constant battle of the tannins going on inside your mouth. Per the usual Dunn style, crisp, clear (excellent color) and an overwhelming blackberry, black cherry flavor. Full bodied, but unlike other years....a smooth finish, not the usual pucker face from the lost battle of the tannins. Balance has finally come to this wine.....maybe, just maybe, the other years will be drinkable before my funeral. I must say the I enjoyed this more than any other Howell Mountain (96-07). I would drink this in the next few years.
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Takes quite a bit of time to resolve - an hour or two. Starts a bit disjointed, with quite a bit of structure. Resolves to more fruit (rather than less structure) as the wine never lets you forget its pedigree. Nice nose, slightly green mouth, slightly tart length. A bit of a bruiser.
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Had heard nice things about this wine and I was not familiar with the producer. Thinner than I expected and floral and blueberry on the nose. The taste was the same with some second hand mineral and dark berry. Medium finish, but seems like it is nearing the end of its life. Very good.
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8/5/2023 - DoubleD1969 wrote:
PnP. Drank along side the ‘96. Very similar appearance. The nose on the ‘00 was stronger with sweet notes like cocoa powder and graphite. Palate had more darker cherries and vanilla. This was clearly a notch above the ‘96.
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5/7/2022 - Geaux Tigers wrote: 86 Points
86 is generous. Birth year wine for my eldest graduation. War Damn Eagle! But the wine was more like a Bama fan, old, tired and out of date, reminiscing of Gene Stallings, well before St. Nick arrived. My daughter can enjoy the last bottle without me. Thankfully, an ‘04 awaits in two weeks for another graduation!
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5/1/2022 - DoubleMagnum wrote: 87 Points
Tasted blind I thought it was flawed. A few at the table didn't like it but didn't think it was defective. I think there was VA in this. There was a nail polish, band-aid along with a very flat, dull palate compared to everything else. Maybe it was a bad bottle.
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11/25/2021 - frenchiecagowine wrote:
Not sure what to think about this bottle, it wasn't what I expected. Very funky and medicinal upon opening, with what seemed like VA perhaps, very lean and marked by the absence of fruit, I wasn't particularly pleased. Not sure if other people who tasted were being polite because it was my bottle but it didn't seem to bother them as much as me!
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11/24/2021 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Medicinal red fruit aromas. lots of floral/pollen sweetness on the nose too. super fresh palate, medium minus tannin. The medicinal red fruit strays close to band-aid and is decidedly barnyard too. maybe not the most pristine/representative Dunn Howell, but still enjoyable all around. Thanks JB!
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9/25/2021 - Gcashman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Some funk on opening but smoothed out with some air.
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7/16/2021 - cperdman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still holding up will get better
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11/8/2020 - JR_Boston wrote: 91 Points
10 Year Tasting @ Cobble (1997-2006)
Really nice body and finish. The nose was a little much when first poured, and taste was good but didn’t develop as much as some of the other vintages
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9/19/2020 - hfindlay Likes this wine:
Much better than the last bottle I tried. This time I decanted for several hours and, more importantly, adjusted my attitude: older bottle, decent but not perfect cellaring, okay vintage. I was rewarded with a graceful, still healthy if not robust, totally enjoyable mountain cab. All kinds of lovely secondary notes emerging, like cedar, leather, and graphite. Tiny, grainy tannins. My friend -- who is used to big young Napa fruit bombs -- adored it and bogarted three quarters of the bottle.
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7/5/2020 - JidR Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Was initially very excited for this bottle. Let it breathe over the course of a couple hours. However, it never really sang for me and the body seemed super thin. Maybe the bottle wasn't great, not sure.
Color is deep ruby. Medium intensity. Aromas of black cherry, stewed raspberries and blackberries, dried flowers, leather, bits cedar. Spice box notes.
Palate: tannins are medium soft and mature. Acidity is medium. Body is medium- feels very thin and feels over the hill. Finish is medium. Flavor are black cherry, spice box, cedar, leather, tobacco leaf, prune, tea leaves. Dried flowers.
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1/25/2020 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 94 Points
Blind tasting with buds (Washington, DC): My contribution. I couldn't have been happier with how this showed. Dark currants still going on the nose, lots of them, with a complex mix of spice cake, clove, mint, graphite, leather, bookshelves - lots going on. Crisp acidity balances well with the tannins, which still provide solid structure, on a medium-bodied frame. Red and black currants, topped in mint, graphite, menthol, cocoa, with mineral and earth undertones. Some savory spice notes coming out. Refined and balanced. The blind tasting guesses from others centered around Cab Franc-heavy, Right Bank Bordeaux from the early 00s, but one friend guessed Napa Cab from an "old school" producer.
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1/4/2020 - jbaron wrote: 92 Points
Good saturated nose; slightly tannic, good length; moderate mouth with mostly earth notes rather than overt fruit. Kevin found the light mouth to be a good point while I found it to be... light. I’d have preferred a bit of overt fruit with my earth and vegetables but no matter, good as it was.
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12/15/2019 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 97 Points
Randy Dunn's wines are comprised of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 32 months in 100% new French oak. From a magnum purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion, this wine was double-decanted (including use of a Vinturi aerator), allowing two hours in decanter prior to funneling back into the cleansed bottle. It was subsequently served at a dinner party, where it was serially sampled over approximately three hours. Still a youthful deep ruby/red, it retains a nucleus of black currant fruit, adding notes of dried herbs, iodine, earth, tobacco and licorice. Full bodied, seamlessly alcoholic (13.6%) and with medium-to-high acidity, it retains plentiful tannins that have further integrated since my last tasting 2/13/2016. Dense on the mid-palate, it goes on to close with a lengthy finish that is still a bit tart but no longer overtly astringent. This is certainly a success for the vintage but is not as fleshy as Dunn Howell Mountain Cabs from better vintages. Well-cellared magnums such a this will last at least another decade. Drink now-2030.
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9/20/2019 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
WX+ Meetup at The Marq with Brian Ball from Skipstone Vineyards (The Marq - Chicago, IL): Funky and pungent nose. Restrained and it's definitely time to drink up.
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6/29/2019 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar notes as previous tastings. The "Pros" clearly under estimated where this wine was going, even after nearly twenty years. No, it is not the best Cabernet Dunn has produced, it is not the most concentrated wine Dunn has produced, it is not the most complex wine Dunn has produced. This is just a wonderful cabernet to drink with food, still plenty of dark fruits and nuances, well balanced, and a silky medium to long finish. Aging gracefully from a poor vintage, this is a clear indication of what Dunn Cabernets can be in a great vintage and a lot of aging.
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3/27/2019 - Pancreatitis wrote:
Drank over several hours, this had a very deep, complex, alluring nose, cassis, soy, menthol, charcuterie, beef stock.
The palate very youthful (in spite of being in transition to predominantly secondary), vibrant and intense, syrupy, cassis and soy with truffle and cherry liqueur, acidity verging on shrill and very much still a tannic behemoth.
This is a very good Cabernet which cellared correctly is probably still 10-20 years from its apogee, but at the same time reminds me of why I rarely touch Cabernet and love Burgundy...
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2/23/2019 - hfindlay wrote: flawed
Alas, I’m sure it’s because I cellared it less than meticulously, but this bottle definitely summited a while ago and is now well into a valley on the other side. I was so in denial, I tried twice in two days, but no, it’s all hard edges and tough love.
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2/9/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: 86 Points
Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind Cabernet (Chevalier Fine Wines - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind in Cabernet from around the world tasting. Big and powerful black fruit to start, then completely dominated by rugged tannins middle through finish. Very good length, but not ready to enjoy, and will it ever harmonize completely?
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9/30/2018 - wa2ofd wrote: 85 Points
Tannins refined but with a bit of a burn on the front end...very odd for this wine..while very drinkable I’m not sure the alcohol hasn’t overcome residual fruit.
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8/11/2018 - intrinsicvalue Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still a lovely wine. I decanted for 2 hours and it kept evolving in the glass. I initially agreed with those who said it was not getting any better but this wine requires patience and the mid palate showed up beautifully, it just took time. Very pretty soft red berry and slightly meaty pencil shaving-ish nose, As it evolved in the glass it came together well. The finish is long herbal and gorgeous. I ate this with a grilled grass fed ribeye and some simple roasted red potatoes
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6/30/2018 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar notes as previous tastings - "Deep berry fruit in the nose with blackberries, currants, licorice, and earthiness. Plums, blackberries, and black cherries in the flavor. Medium to long finish."
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6/17/2018 - drinknick31 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outstanding better than expected still has a solid nose and nice dry finish. Definitely at it’s peek now. Have at if you have any.
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5/27/2018 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 91 Points
Took to restaurant and waiter shattered the cork, so ended up with a decant. Much better than last bottle, more fruit and earthy notes and less acid, though still restrained. Definitely HM. Drank over 2 hrs, no improvement over time.
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5/19/2018 - Geaux Tigers wrote: 89 Points
AG hit this right. Decent but definitely an off year for Dunn HM. Earth, dirt, pine, red acidic fruit. Tannins and oak receded, but this has a lot of acid. Too much acid. 89 is a gift.
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5/5/2018 - lousall Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfectly drinking wine. Smooth and soft and entirely delicious.
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5/2/2018 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 89 Points
From Magnum. This bottle had so much more Eucalyptus than the last that it overtook the wine and really hurt its score this time around.
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4/16/2018 - john@draneaslaw.com Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Really didn’t like this wine. Tasted hot, with little fruit. Not tasty at all. Off nose - intense oak, cedary flavor. Can’t believe others rated it higher - maybe it was a bad bottle.
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2/24/2018 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Notes similar to previous tastings.
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12/1/2017 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Notes smilar to previous tastings
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10/21/2017 - bonedocnine wrote: 87 Points
This wine has classic Dunn aromatics and flavors. You wouldn't miss this in a blind tasting. I always find this wine to be to sharp, like vitamin C. If you like Dunn Cab you like this fine but I think the style is not for me.....
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10/14/2017 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
FROM MAGNUM. Silky smooth. Eucalyptus, blackberry, black cherry, some cedar. 20 second finish. Great product in a difficult year.
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10/14/2017 - Kskels wrote: 90 Points
Very drinkable but felt like it has passed it's peak
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8/20/2017 - tomlee wrote: 88 Points
Crimson in color. 13.6% ABV. Powerful nose of red fruits, leather and fresh mint. Big and structured on the palate with fading fruits and substantial tannins. Dried cherries, currants, plums and pencil lead on the palate. The finish is long with coarse tannins. This wine is everything you expect from Randy Dunn in size and structure but just does not match up to the better vintages of the late 90's and early 00's. Drink over the next several years.
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6/30/2017 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasting notes were similar with previous tastings.
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6/22/2017 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 92 Points
A generous gift from some restaurant staff after a big night, I found this fully mature and highly approachable, with notes of forest floor, currants, black raspberry and leather. No greenness or other vintage negatives that I could discern.
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6/18/2017 - davidandrose Does not like this wine:
Past prime. Not drinkable
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6/16/2017 - SonnyChiba wrote: 87 Points
Stewed red and black fruit, a bit plain and simple, with an unpleasant sharp meaty/leathery component towards the finish. Felt a bit awkward. Not sure if it's the vintage but didn't feel this delivered much.
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12/11/2016 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 93 Points
Opened in bottle for 3 hours plus. Initially lots of mossy forest floor that blew off leaving earthy red fruit, aged leather, wet wood, and menthol. Still plenty of acidity with several more years plus to go. Has to be the best example if 2000 Napa cab still alive.
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11/24/2016 - isaacjamesbaker Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was in great form, and truly impressive for the vintage - it's holding up remarkably well. Smoky aromas with earth and roasted red pepper (someone said creaky floorboards, and that's perfect, maybe with some old library books thrown in) on top of some black currant tea. Tannic backbone is still quite solid, but it's dusty and quite fresh, too. Black and red currants are laced with mushroom, soy, black tea, damp pine forest, pipe tobacco and aged leather. Complex, nuanced, held together well. Still time ahead but this was very nice.
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9/30/2016 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 92 Points
Lots of stewed blackfruit and forest floor at opening that sort of blew off in the decanter. Definately aged but still plenty of blackbone. Tons of aged leather, eucalyptus, wet cedar, smoke, and faint red fruit. Definately more enjoyable with red meat. Still has a few more years.
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8/13/2016 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Blackberries, black currant, eucalyptus, sweet Oak with hints of spice. A smooth wine that is still in the prime of its drinking window. The 3 bottles opened were all consistent with each other and could likely have been served in good form 5 years from now.
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7/10/2016 - partylikeakennedy wrote: 92 Points
Lots of dust and dank. Leather, earth, old creaky floorboards. The nose is stinky like old socks. It's pretty fantastic. Decant a bit to let some of the heftier stank waft off, and dark fruits will eventually peek out just a little.
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7/1/2016 - brucegolfer wrote: 93 Points
Excellent wine. Deep garnet color, well balanced, still plenty of fruit.
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5/5/2016 - Mtpisgah wrote:
The cork completely fell apart while opening, maybe I will finally invest in a Durand. Decanted and strained the wine. Palate was a nice dusty leather, mild fruit. On the palate it was similar to the nose but with a bitter aftertaste. A bit tannic also but n to be confused with the bitterness. I think a little oxidized with the dry cork. It improved a bit over the night and I really wanted to save a glass for day two but I was afraid it would fall apart. It was still good and very restrained, but not what I had hopeful for.
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4/16/2016 - jnocera Likes this wine: 92 Points
So good for a 2000. Very subtle and balanced. Bordeaux style nose lots of cigar box on the nose. On the palate a bit of tobacco and earlobes but very balanced and nice mountain fruit. A long smooth finish
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3/25/2016 - buckeye76 wrote: 92 Points
Deep berry fruit in the nose with blackberries, currants, licorice, and earthiness. Plums, blackberries, and black cherries in the flavor. Medium to long finish.
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3/16/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Howell Mountain Spring Wine Trade Tasting. The 2012 was unavailable for he tasting so two older vintages were poured. Nose of black cherry, plum, fig, and sage, more of the same on the palate, smooth, supple, lovely tasting, obviously properly stored and a pleasure to sip and savor, medium body, long, rich finish ending with sediment in the glass, tasted three times and enjoyed every minute of it.
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2/13/2016 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 89 Points
Valentine's Day Dinner Party Celebration (La Jolla, California): Time in the cellar has helped this wine, which still sports a youthful deep ruby robe. Double-decanted, allowing three hours in decanter prior to funneling back into the cleaned bottle, it was served at a dinner party and serially sampled over 3-4 hours. Still with front-and-center black currant fruit, it adds aromas and flavors of dried herbs, iodine, earth and licorice. Full-bodied and with medium-to-high acidity, it wraps its flavors with substantial tannins that are finally beginning to yield. The alcohol (listed as 13.6%) shows no heat and the middle palate is solid. Albeit lengthy, the finish remains tart and astringent. Considering the challenges of the vintage, this Howell Mountain offering is a success. That said, it does not measure up to its brethren from better vintages. Drink now-2030.
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2/6/2016 - jwb57 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Absolutely beautiful for the 2000 vintage / Always been a fan of Dunn but this was special.
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2/2/2016 - LWI wrote: 89 Points
US Cabernet Sauvignon: Blackberries and black currants; faint camphor; decent acidity, e bitter finish, a bit unclean.
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10/3/2015 - Nutty08 wrote: 90 Points
As others have mentioned, this has a strong medicinal streak. I enjoy slightly green/herbal some would say under ripe cab, but this is a little too much even for me. Expressive leafy herbal/eucalyptus nose. Black currant on the palate, but very much in the background to a strong herbal/medicinal character. Finish with a stony black fruit and eucalyptus character. Quite polished and nuanced and if the fruit was to the fore I would think this may improve with the green notes becoming more "minty," but my guess is that the best days are behind and it is what it is. Has the expected nuance and balance of a high quality producer, just the unfavorable flavor profile of the vintage. Fine unobtrusive tannins. Decanted and seemed to pull together a bit at 6hrs air.
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8/7/2015 - johnh1001 wrote: 85 Points
very medicinal. Shallow and angular. Sharp finish. Others liked this more than I did.
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7/12/2015 - buckeye76 wrote: 92 Points
DEEP BERRY FRUIT IN THE NOSE WITH BLACKBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, AND CURRANTS AND A TOUCH OF LICORICE. PLUMS, BLACKBERRIES, AND BLACK CHERRIES IN THE FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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7/10/2015 - Klugi Wine wrote: 88 Points
Compared to the 2000 Howell Mountain, which was outstanding, this was quite a disappointment. Probably a weird phase, but I expect it's past its prime.
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4/26/2015 - pigeage wrote: 85 Points
Definitely not the Dunn wine I've known. This was tired and unintersting. Drink up now.
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4/20/2015 - tomlee wrote: 90 Points
Blood red in color with some fading at the edge of the glass. 13.6% ABV. Dried red fruits, leather and graphite on the nose. Medium body. Tight and bruising on the palate. Flavors of cherries, currants, pencil and cassis. Drying, coarse tannins on a medium length finish. The word rustic comes to mind. Dunn always seems to walk a tightrope of tanns and fruit. In this case I think the tannins may ultimately outlive the fruit. Underwhelming if you are a fan of Dunn Howell Mountain from classic years like '91 and '94 but not bad considering the vintage. Drink over the next 2-4 years.
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12/2/2014 - huevosconvino Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very Burgundian, lots of dry, tart red fruit, extremely ascetic on its own, demands a food pairing. Terrific with pasta bolognese (without red sauce), gets a little sweeter and more lush, but still pretty dry and stoic. Fun, possibly a bit past its prime by a year, needed 90+ minutes of decanting regardless to get a little more open and fun.
UPDATE: I drank the second half of this bottle after keeping it preserved with a nitrogen tap, and I didn't need to decant it at all! In fact, I'd say this is a pop-and-pour situation right now, so if you have it just start drinking on opening. I was much happier with it; the wine did fade a little after being open for 60-90 minutes, so I wish I had that first night back...
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11/28/2014 - aerosol Does not like this wine: 82 Points
This may have been an off bottle but here goes. I brought this to a dinner and decanted 4 hours. The nose was too medicinal and devoid of any fruit and the stuff one expects with a good cab. The first sip was light and lacked tannins and typical flavors. The 2nd sip was no better. I am sorry not to concur with everyone else because I wanted this to knock my socks off. I have a bottle of 97 so fingers are crossed..
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11/13/2014 - Javachip wrote: 90 Points
Hazy garnet - blood red. Closed, brooding bouquet of forest floor, blackberry bush, creosote. Full body with tight structure and firm tannins. Needs a few more years.
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10/6/2014 - Purple Tooth wrote: 91 Points
I don't think a score is ever fair to rating a wine, but rather a reliable indicator (provided you have a similar palate to the judge). In the case of Dunn HM 2000, considering the lackluster growing conditions, it is a BRILLIANT WINE, leaving many of its peers in the dust. Bordeauxesque in style (terroir driven), it blows off whiffs of roasted coffeee, clay, and dried flowers, followed by a dusty, ripe plum favor. This is not a wine for people looking for big fruit. Its more of an intellectual drink. Starting to look dense, fleshly, and a bit tired..The finish is moderately short and the wine is probably not going to get better. Enjoy soon
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8/11/2014 - Troon wrote: 88 Points
I love Dunn, but this vintage is 0 for 2 with me. Both bottles have seemed off with a flat palate and a thin finish.
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6/15/2014 - markjanes Likes this wine: 91 Points
this was a better experience than my last bottle in 2011... the texture seemed less rough and the wine seemed pretty plush in general... wine seemed quite young for its age both visually and aromatically... still think it’s not the best vintage for this wine but i either underestimated it or got a better bottle.
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3/29/2014 - bmartz1 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Agree with other recent notes. Drank very flat, and almost watery. Bit of fruit, but otherwise mellow and not the typical backbone of a Dunn Howell Mountain.
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3/11/2014 - InVinjeVeritas wrote: 87 Points
Not very expressive. Not sure if its just dull, or whether it will open up in a few years. The 98 drunk on the same occasion were much better.
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3/10/2014 - winenut30 Likes this wine: 91 Points
aged well; fruity and smooth
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3/2/2014 - wa2ofd wrote: 89 Points
Very soft, maybe even a little flat on finish...a nice easy drinking cab...somewhat typical for vintage, but not for Dunn...
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12/8/2013 - winenut30 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding cab, No flaws; great with beef tenderloin and mushrooms
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11/8/2013 - Hbgsurgeon wrote: 91 Points
3 hour decant and could have used more. Still had an initial flavor of bright cherry and then comes the expected Dunn barnyard flavors. Give this one a bit more time and it will be spectacular.
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10/12/2013 - whitmanlholt wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. This is a medium ruby red, with a bit of sediment throughout the bottle (mostly mild levels until the very end). The nose carries scents of plum, an odd but not unpleasant slate/dirt smell, and some alcohol. In the mouth, there is a slight bit of mint and a sense of structure, but not much fruit – this reminds me of an aged Bordeaux from an average year. Overall, this is an elegant, enjoyable Cab, but may be past its prime. Drink soon. 91 points.
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9/20/2013 - Thirsty1 Does not like this wine:
This wine was drank alongside a bottle of 2000 Heitz Martha's Vineyard and was a disappointment. Cork was in pristine shape and had been stored well. Great color with mild bricking around the edges. No bouquet to speak of. I'm expecting good things to happen as wine has been laid down to be enjoyed later. There was no development, no aroma or bouquet. The wine was in balance aside from the lack of flavor or fruit. Next.
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9/17/2013 - RMundell wrote: flawed
spoiled
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9/2/2013 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar to most recent bottle. Good fruit, with heavy herbal notes that fade a bit with some air. Good structure and balance. Still has time ahead of it.
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8/14/2013 - Troon wrote: flawed
This bottle was flawed. There was no nose to speak of, and the finish was sour grapes and dry and bitter almost like dirt. Purchased from winery one year ago and requested replacement (winery agreed to replace).
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5/11/2013 - drdorado wrote: 93 Points
This was my last bottle of 6. The wine has developed nicely. Hyper-decanted which helped a lot versus previous bottles. Herbal on the nose, some brick coloring on the edges, nice depth and finish. Very good bottle of wine.
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3/15/2013 - winenut30 wrote: 91 Points
Outstanding. Good nose and satisfying finish
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3/8/2013 - WineCellarTV Likes this wine: 96 Points
Deep crimson. With hardly any signs of aging. Dense and vital in color.
After decanting the aromas were still locked. It took two hours until the wine opened up and presented its amazing line-up of aromas.
Graphite and Mineral Characters. Parsley and other Herbs. Decent fruit, as Dark Berries. Freshly ground coffee. Some Tar and Floral characters.
Enormous diversity served with great finesse!
Earthy and Mineral characteristics. Cacao, Toasted Oak, Cloves with hints of Eucalypt. Beautiful Green facets. A little Fruit, Dark Berries and Cherries.
Finishes medium-long with vibrant Acidity and present Tannins.
Beautiful texture and mouthfeel!
If you are patient, you´ll be rewarded.
The wine needed time to open up and to show itself in an extraordinary way!
This is not the “normal” fruit dominated Napa Valley Cabernet.
Beautiful complexity and balance.
See more details and pics in my Blog: cellartv.wordpress.com
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9/2/2012 - jswine15 wrote: 95 Points
Fabulous...it may have been because it was at my daughters wedding, but this wine tasted far better than I remember it...Dunn can take a very long time to get ready to drink, but this one was great. Highly recommended.
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7/28/2012 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar to previous bottle, but heavier on the herbal notes.
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7/21/2012 - pdadams66 wrote: 91 Points
Deep red center, a red rim with only modest signs of age.
Pretty, precise nose of graphite, charcoal, cherries, slightly underripe plums, toasty oak, dusty.
Smooth, earthy, plums, a little vegetal (in a good way), acidity, oak and toasted wood, spicy, great length.
Drinks well now, but might improve a little with age. May not appeal to those that like a more fruit forward Napa cab.
Day 2: Opened up further, tapenade, cola, bark, loamy earth, excellent richness, balancing acidity and tannin, will develop further.
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1/7/2012 - pdadams66 wrote: 90 Points
Deep dark red center, red rim, no real signs of age.
Bing and black cherries, herbs - dried basil, smoke, a little capsicum, dried black olives, meaty, rich.
Restrained, cherries and some cassis, tapenade, dry, healthy tannin and acid, leafy/fruity long finish.
Outstanding, very non-Napa cab, took about 4 hours to open up, much more old world style, drinks ok now but will improve over the next few years.
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10/7/2011 - Cleve Miller wrote: 85 Points
Opened in restaurant so only had 60 minutes or so decanted to breathe, but never opened up: firm graphite, strong but flat fruit nose, same with palate and finish, which followed flat mid-notes. Nothing happening at all here. Opened up the '97 later to compare, same flatness, but a tad more open; maybe I'm just not a Dunn fan.
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9/18/2011 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 88 Points
This wine was splash-decanted and serially tasted over three hours. The robe is opaque crimson and the nose shows primary aromas of black currants, tar and chocolate. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium-to-high acidity and massive tannins which are somewhat coarse. The alcohol (listed as 13.6%) is acceptably integrated. The flavors mirror the nose and the middle palate is solid. Long but very tart and astringent finish. I'm not sure about this particular bottling. The acidity appears to be excessive and the tannins are certainly not supple. I would give this wine at least another 5 years before re-tasting. With time, it may merit a higher score, but I have concerns. Drink 1/16-12/30.
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7/14/2011 - markjanes wrote: 85 Points
I think there are some good notes on this wine below so will be brief, this wine is definitely a cold climate (high acidity and green slightly unripe, very coarse tannins) version of Dunn's Howell Mountain... certainly not a great vintage for them IMO as this wine tends towards these characteristics anyway... the wine is unmistakably Dunn with minerally, flinestone vitamin, greenish aromas... wine is a bit on the hard end of the balance scale, good length, great intensity, good complexity... not a ton of finesse, a hardish texture, and more Dunn than Howell Mountain in its expression of place... I suspect this wine is at its plateau where it will live comfortably for several years... not a crowd pleaser in the least but those who like Dunn's wines will find things to like in this wine... hmmm, not so brief after all.
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1/31/2011 - kscopela wrote: 89 Points
Certainly an off year for Dunn. The fruit is not very present on the nose or palate. Nose is typically Dunn like with the earthy mineral characteristics. On the palate the fruit is just not there and the finish is lacking.
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12/19/2010 - davidandrose wrote: 89 Points
Impressive for the vintage and still has several years of life. Tannins mellowed as others have noted, found a sourness in the aftertaste that just put me off.
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11/13/2010 - RMundell Likes this wine: 90 Points
Took to WVU tailgate. Nice minty wine. Still very alive.
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10/10/2010 - condita1@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking rather well right now. Dark fruits showed up, some graphite, all tannins dropped out. There was a good amount of sediment on the side of the bottle. Definetly the time to enjoy this beauty.
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9/11/2010 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully now. Could easily pass for a Bordeaux. Currant, with supple tannins, some graphite, and a bit of spice. Very well balanced.
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9/4/2010 - wconnolly wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple color. Very narrow and deep in dark fruits. Hints of blueberry and blackberry evolving into strong notes of graphite and tobacco. Well resolved tannins and nice balance given this was young by Dunn standards.
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8/15/2010 - Highlander wrote:
Finally.....I decanted a mag of this for about 3 hrs. Given that this is an 'off' vintage....maybe there is hope for the other 'good' years....as this wine is at last drinkable, without the constant battle of the tannins going on inside your mouth. Per the usual Dunn style, crisp, clear (excellent color) and an overwhelming blackberry, black cherry flavor. Full bodied, but unlike other years....a smooth finish, not the usual pucker face from the lost battle of the tannins. Balance has finally come to this wine.....maybe, just maybe, the other years will be drinkable before my funeral. I must say the I enjoyed this more than any other Howell Mountain (96-07). I would drink this in the next few years.
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7/17/2010 - jbaron wrote: 90 Points
Takes quite a bit of time to resolve - an hour or two. Starts a bit disjointed, with quite a bit of structure. Resolves to more fruit (rather than less structure) as the wine never lets you forget its pedigree. Nice nose, slightly green mouth, slightly tart length. A bit of a bruiser.
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12/22/2009 - Hbgsurgeon wrote: 90 Points
Balanced, typical Dunn earthyness, improved greatly over 2-3 hours
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6/14/2009 - sadiebear wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyed this classic Cab with a Kobe NY Strip...mmm
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5/29/2009 - jbaron wrote: 90 Points
Reticent nose. Mouth is slighty tannic, but quite surmountable. Cherries and licorice and decent texture. Nice length, if not overly long.
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2/16/2009 - dastephens wrote: 89 Points
Very slow to open up. Started quietly with subdued fruit and slightly puckered tannins; after 2 hours decanting, earth and depth emerged
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5/18/2008 - jamscreator wrote: 86 Points
Had heard nice things about this wine and I was not familiar with the producer. Thinner than I expected and floral and blueberry on the nose. The taste was the same with some second hand mineral and dark berry. Medium finish, but seems like it is nearing the end of its life. Very good.
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4/16/2006 - MTC wrote: 90 Points
Better than the 2001 Silver Oak but not very impressive. Balanced.
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