April 22, 2024 - Quite a nice surprise, while decanting saw funk getting out of bottle and thought it would be bad. I would recommend keeping bottle upright for 24h and then decant. The barnyard funk end up blowing off after 1.5h . What came out was beautiful fruit, a little funk and heat. Overall great ballance and smooth integration. It should be a 93 point wine but the funk and heat takes it down a point for me.
April 22, 2024 - 3 hour decant. Pretty nose of bright red fruits with the pallet following the nose. Slight fine tannins with a certain minerality, good mouthfeel and long finish. This was my first dunn and I am truly impressed. Definitely old school cab. Paid around 100 several years ago and, at that price I definitely would buy more. Unfortunately, the price seems to have shot up to almost 200, which I'm not willing to pay. Really nice wine. 94-'95
March 2, 2024 - Elegance and depth. Gorgeous.
November 21, 2023 - Loved it !
August 4, 2023 - Really good. Barnyard funk already. Very smooth finish. Nothing harsh. Well balanced with terrific flavour.
July 27, 2023 - Structured, classic Dunn. Some green notes through the core, yet with medium+ ripe fruit. Lower expression on the nose than expected, perhaps in a bit of dormant/hibernation state right now. This will improve with age.
Update Day 2: remaining 1/2 bottle. Resolved tannin allowed the rich dark fruit to come through. Still a bit muted on the nose but quite nice midpalate body and finish. Upgrading to 94pts.
May 23, 2023 - Beautiful aromas of black fruit, licorice and graphite, but the wine either needs more time in the bottle or really is just average for my palate. If tasted blind, I certainly would not have guessed that critics gave it 95-97 points.
April 12, 2023 - Corked
March 7, 2022 - Inky red. Black fruit, black tea, black licorice. Only medium body and athletic, so delicious and approachable now.
October 31, 2021 - Eight years post-vintage, the 2013 Dunn Napa Valley still needs quite a lot of air and precise timing to drink its best. After three splash decants and two hours to breathe, we had about 45 minutes to enjoy the beautiful aromas of blueberry, blackberry, black cherry, bramble, cedar, and laurel that billowed out of the glass before the wine closed back down. The palate remained balanced, moderately plush, and superbly structured throughout, with bright acids and in-check alcohol. We're early in the drinking window for 750mLs: they have plenty of upside in 5 years, my ideal is probably in 10-15, and long haulers could go another 20 or more. Not bad for an under $100 Napa Valley designate from this legendary vintage!
For those who have the other 2013 Dunns and are feeling impatient, let the Napa Valley satisfy your curiosity. The Howell is incredible but not even close to ready, and I have to imagine the Trailer is much the same.