I really enjoyed this but wasn’t a typical Dunn for me. Excellent traditional California Cabernet, but without the intense tannins I am used to from Dunn. Surprising approachable with a 1 hour decant
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PNP. Inky purple red color and similar flavors. Super fresh fruit with some acidity and tannins, already approachable. Enjoyable but still a little young for me. Should do better with another 5-10 years in bottle.
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Napa evening with one bottle of Bordeaux (semiblind):
2016 Dunn Howell Mountain: A bit thin, lacking power. I have only had the 2013 before, but it was better. Wait 5 years or so: 92 pts. 2017 Beringer Private Reserve: A really good wine with depth and seductive fruit, without being over the top. 95 pts 2018 Gallica - I really liked the 2008 but the 2018 was just so-so: 91 pts 2019 Chateau Issan: Not convincing. Loved the 2018 but the 2019 did not deliver. 90 pts.
All bottles were opened 5 days in advance and then decanted before dinner. They all improved during our dinner.
Too young. Very tight, a bit ripe still. Dunn’s are made for the patient person, so wait till the 10 year mark for the true complexity to come out.
Tasted before we opened an 11 year old Cimarossa Rian Vineyard, and that was far better.
Do I think this will be better with time? Absolutely; great vintage, great fruit, great winemaker. But right now it’s just not showing enough complexity. The fruit at least is outstanding, just a touch ripe for my palate (I prefer mid-age fruit)
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One hour decant. Deep dark lush magenta color. Plum, prailine, sage, licorice, mushroom, and subtle milk chocolate and minerality. Smooth, tongue drying palate. Firm, lower intensity tannins on the longish finish.
Absolutely a Bordeaux-leaning Napa, which is not my style, but this is very well made. Would have been even better with a 3+ hour decant. Went perfectly with my duck at Torc in Napa.
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9/10/2023 - jhw425 wrote: 92 Points
I really enjoyed this but wasn’t a typical Dunn for me. Excellent traditional California Cabernet, but without the intense tannins I am used to from Dunn. Surprising approachable with a 1 hour decant
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7/10/2023 - SWHighlander Likes this wine: 92 Points
PNP. Inky purple red color and similar flavors. Super fresh fruit with some acidity and tannins, already approachable. Enjoyable but still a little young for me. Should do better with another 5-10 years in bottle.
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5/27/2023 - Sundbyberg wrote: 92 Points
Napa evening with one bottle of Bordeaux (semiblind):
2016 Dunn Howell Mountain: A bit thin, lacking power. I have only had the 2013 before, but it was better. Wait 5 years or so: 92 pts.
2017 Beringer Private Reserve: A really good wine with depth and seductive fruit, without being over the top. 95 pts
2018 Gallica - I really liked the 2008 but the 2018 was just so-so: 91 pts
2019 Chateau Issan: Not convincing. Loved the 2018 but the 2019 did not deliver. 90 pts.
All bottles were opened 5 days in advance and then decanted before dinner. They all improved during our dinner.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
4/13/2023 - AboveAvgBro wrote: 90 Points
2+ hour decant
Too young. Very tight, a bit ripe still. Dunn’s are made for the patient person, so wait till the 10 year mark for the true complexity to come out.
Tasted before we opened an 11 year old Cimarossa Rian Vineyard, and that was far better.
Do I think this will be better with time? Absolutely; great vintage, great fruit, great winemaker. But right now it’s just not showing enough complexity. The fruit at least is outstanding, just a touch ripe for my palate (I prefer mid-age fruit)
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4/11/2023 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 95 Points
One hour decant. Deep dark lush magenta color. Plum, prailine, sage, licorice, mushroom, and subtle milk chocolate and minerality. Smooth, tongue drying palate. Firm, lower intensity tannins on the longish finish.
Absolutely a Bordeaux-leaning Napa, which is not my style, but this is very well made. Would have been even better with a 3+ hour decant. Went perfectly with my duck at Torc in Napa.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (7)