Typical Dunn but with some interesting nuances. Excellent cassis and blackberry flavors bolstered by pencil shavings, cedar, tobacco and very, very distinctive leather component. I was going to call it baseball glove but my girlfriend corrected me. It was, and she is absolutely correct, new Louis Vuitton leather. Wow! A 30 minute decant was all that was needed for this wine to fully blossom. The nose leapt from the glass and was captivating. Silky smooth, the still-present tannins have softened and sweetened considerably. As with most Dunns, this one can go another decade or two, but it's singing right now.
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3 hour double decant not as perfect as the 2014 tasted a few weeks ago but a great Cabernet and excellent example and a joy to drink I have opened two others but feel it is just now in its prime.
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Deep ruby garnet color; nose of dark red fruit and licorice;smooth tannins, cocoa plum and graphite with long finish. Drinking very well now. The cork crumbled but the wine was solid and and had plenty of life in it.
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Tasted against the 2001 1995 and 1986. This is young and clearly on the primary fruit spectrum. Reminds me more of the Napa bottling instead. Has plenty of life ahead.
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Fantastic wine. My first of 12. This is still in it's absolute youth. The wine is very harmonious already, but 5 more years will soften the few remaining tanins.
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Great wine. Decanted an hour and fifteen, but still drinking surprisingly young. Dunn never disappoints. Those mountain vines offer lush Napa fruit complimented by nice acidity and tannin.
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Beautiful wine, and better on second day. Dark inky ruby/with tea colour mixed in. Cassis, dark berry fruits, sweet tobacco, spices. Wonderful complexity to flavours. Dusty drying tannins. Great structure. Sweet berry fruit with some bitterness. Very cabernet sauvignon-like. Medium fruit, medium acid, medium tannin. Long finish.
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Initially closed and seemed tight. Pours dark inky bloody ruby and nose had some interesting tea spice, iron chalk mineral, and dark cherry. Palette was a little tight initially. Cab flavor was nice. Very Bordeaux like. Tannins still seems present. But the next day it was even better. Beautful medium body and layered with all the aforementioned but just more delineated. Long finish like more than 30 sec. Very nice but probably could age another 10 years and still be beautiful. Not as heavy as many other Cali cabs so nice change. Sad it’s my last bottle.
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This savory and dense Cabernet seems shut down at the moment, with few of the aromatic fireworks I had expected. Garnet in color; medium in body; aromas of black cherry and graphite. Dense flavors of espresso, boysenberry, and leather, with a tannic and grainy finish. Decant two hours, if not more. 13.8% alcohol. I preferred a 2005 and 2009 I've had in the past year or so, but I'm just starting to get a sense of these wines. 92+ at the moment, but upside when / if it wakes up.
From winery, at release. Medium deep youthful garnet, no sign of detrimental age. Bordeaux-like Cab nose, complex and complete... not flamboyant.
This is not a beauty pageant Cabernet that shocks the senses. Some of those are great. This is more for people who have “been around the block” with Cabernet through time and across geographies. It can be appreciated by wine drinkers and wine makers in the Old and New Worlds.
Because the overall impression is balance, completeness, and drinkability already (despite Dunn age worthiness) I’ll skip descriptors except to underscore that it’s not sappy adolescent fruit dominant, not acidity dominant, not tannin dominant, etc.
I suspect it is locked in a long plateau for several years, and will stay restrained yet lacking nothing, balanced but not boring. A wine enjoyed for its quality not its excesses, much like drinking some super-second growth Bordeaux.
Based on two decades plus of Dunns, please be aware that there can be significant vintage variations. I actually dislike a couple vintages, and that’s probably fine with Randy. While many Dunn generalizations are correct (and the @#*& wax isn’t going anywhere), not all Dunn Howell Mountains are the same.
I don’t know why I had mixed expectations going into this wine but boy did this one catch me off-guard. Exceptional Napa nose: fragrant and opulent dark fruits while restrained almost teasing what was to come. Smooth, rich full body on the palate, the blackberry and bramble notes were singing in all their glory with a lovely plush long finish. This wine was like a relief pitcher in baseball coming in and throwing 97 miles per hour right down the middle of the plate and striking the batter out on three pitches without breaking a sweat. This swan-like wine was beautiful while seaming effortless in its delivery.
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Decanted for several hours. Plum and creme de cassis. Dark cherry, and dark chocolate dust. Leather and smoke. Fruit is focused but in balance, with a strong, silky structure. Enjoyed with food and alone, this has a long life ahead. Classic mountain cab, bravo.
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This wine was in great shape. it was double decanted back into the bottle. It was classic Napa and a pleasure to drink. My sense is that it will last several more years if desired.
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Pop and pour. Dark purple color. Wonderful nose of black plum, cherry and a mint/herbal side. So fresh and delicious with good ripe fruit (plum and cherry) and a fresh herb side with some lead pencil on the finish. A beautiful wine.
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Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2006. Tettpakket polert frukbombe som akkurat begynner å slippe til sekundæraromaene. Konsentrert mørk frukt - mangler kanskje ørlite friskhet. Stor kropp med kjøtt og flesk. Sitter som et skudd til Boeuf. Ikke voldsom struktur, men for min del kan dette godt ligge lenger. Meget lang med fine tanniner. 92p
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Lamenting this is my last bottle. 2 hour decant and this wine shines. Super effort, dark color, seductive nose of berries earth tar and medium/full mouth feel with amazing layers of flavors and a long, lingering finish. You want to drink this beautiful wine but must pace yourself to enjoy it all during dinner. Could easily drink this by itself. One of the best California Cab Producer. Cant wait for my 2007’s.
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Purple colour with suble bricking on the edges. Currants, blueberries, and charcoal. Very nice balance, with a perfect touch of toasty oak. 40-second finish was a little clipped, but still very nice. Needs a 45 minute decant, as the wine hit its stride after 2 hours.
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2006 DUNN VINEYARDS HOWELL MOUNTAIN NAPA CABERNET SAUVIGNON- I brought this full well thinking it was probably going to be the youngest of all of the Cab brings, but the 2012 Insignia took that honour; I was happy to discover this bottle was ready to perform and although youthful, it had an incredible balance and a great fresh ripe dark fruit profile; I got generous amounts of liquorice, cedar, smoke and vanilla laden blackberry; there`s an obvious underlying tannic structure that supports longevity, but it`s in no way astringent; the mouthfeel is a hallmark with a silky, smooth texture
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This wine was just fantastic. It was cellar stored since release. Opened as anniversary wine, and it did not disappoint. We decanted the wine for two hours and drank over the next three. The nose had tobacco and fresh strawberries. The palate was red fruit with a long finish. It was a great representation of Dunn, and I can’t wait to try this again in five years as I feel it has 10 years easily left in it.
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Dark violet/garnet color turning dusty orange rust at the rim with a reflective edge. The nose is quite dense at the initial approach but as it evolves in the glass it slowly reveals floral fragrances, pen ink, and butterscotch on ripe, dark fruits. Full-bodied, dense and creamy, this has very persistent and powerful flavors of blueberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, mocha, vanilla bean. Very remarkable for a vintage that normally displays some green notes. Finishes long, ripe and mentholated with no rough edges whatsoever. Fantastic!
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Decanted 2 hours. Tried it after 15 minutes and it seemed light weight but with decent nose and balance. An hour & 45 minutes later it was transformed into an amazing experience. Seemed to add so much weight & complexity during the decant. Wonderful chocolate & leather on the palate with gobs of layering of flavors. Long finish & paired with Prime Rib Eye so was perfectly matched.
This is in such an amazing drinking window that I will address the 2005 & 2006 in the next few weeks. For a year that wasn't supposed to be amazing this wine is amazing. Can't wait to have another bottle.
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This bottle was the best of the bunch I have opened to date. I double decanted it 6 hours befor serving with prime beef tenderloin. Wow! The decant really softened this wine - which I found pretty tight when I last opened a bottle a year ago. It was fresh, energetic, and brimming with delicious Howell Mountain fruit and minerals. Superb length and mouthwatering acidity.
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Adsolutely loved this wine. 1 hour decant, drink over 2 hours at Olde Pink House in Savannah. Delicious! Most impressive part of this wine was the texture, just layers of flavor, reminiscent of pages from a book. Can't wait to buy more!
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Most of the Dunns I've had in the past have had a very strong barnyard smell. Not this 2006! It was a pleasant surprise and was delicious with our Thanksgiving Rib Roast. Opened with a 2006 Pride Reserve Cab (more fruit, as expected). Both were great.
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20th Annual Lyon 10 Year Retrospective: The Mish Mash (Lyon Den): Surprisingly soft for the appellation and producer, but it's still a big wine. The glycerin gives it away as New World in this blind tasting. The tannins finally show up mid-palate and then the black fruit, mocha, spice, and stone flavors just go on and on. 93 on day 2. Now-2026.
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Can't really rate. Popped and poured first night, so didn't have much time to breath, although seemed nice. Second night drank after a bunch of other stuff so really couldn't pay attention.
Loved it. I was a little scared to drink a Dunn Howell before its actual 10th birthday however this one killed it. amazing wine. I wish I had more than 2 bottles remaining.
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A nice way to finish the week. Quite refined and more subtle than expected, but delicious. Soft to medium tannins, dark fruits, and a hint of earth. Good finish. I'd enjoy this wine with a good book and Mahler in the background. My fiancee and I enjoyed while solving the world's problems.
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Oops, I did it again; drank my third bottle this year (had 8 at the start of the year, so it always seemed like something I had enough of to try). But I'm enthusiastic. Very drinkable now with lots of upside yet. Not at all a tannic monster you would expect from Dunn. Good flavors out front. This is drinkable, but I promise to wait at least another year or more until having another.
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Tried this at Chef Geoff in Tysons. First time trying Dunn so I wasn't sure what to expect. Called ahead for a two and a half hour decant. Color was a deep garnet with brown edges. The nose was very tight, savory, greens, dark dirt and something like a dirty garage. Started with savory notes in the palate then completely changed. Moderate tannins and body that was smooth and silky. Very well integrated with some dark fruit, maybe a little cassis. Finish was shorter than expected but still moderate. Overall not a bad wine at all but the finish knocked the points down a bit.
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Was forced to open and pour, but got to enjoy over a 90 min dinner. This one seems nearly into the window, and with a longer decant might just be. Great fruit with secondary flavors, soft but with plenty of backbone.
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Drank a month after another bottle of same. Forgot, or I wouldn't have done it so soon. But consistent notes both ties; good drinking, especially this young. Good nose, balance and finish with classic cal cab flavors. Likely to stay as good or get better for a while.
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Excellent drinking over two nights (under pump). Nice fruit and secondary flavors/complexity without being tear searingly tannic. Will get better still for a while. Great value too compared to other near $100 bottles.
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Decanted for two hours before tasting. Dark purple core, pink rim. Beautiful and complex nose with hints of dark forest berries, cigar-leaves, dry soil, exotic spices, espresso, liquorish and vanilla-toffee. Smooth, well balanced and long – has that magical combination power and poise that only top wines possess. Absolutely no crime in opening this now, but given the high fruit quality and current structure level I wouldn’t be surprised if it continues to improve over the next three to four years. Very nice indeed! (93-95 points).
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Delicious! Powerful nose of cherries, vanilla, apple, and smoke. Concentrated dark fruit and thick body. Big chewy grainy tannins, but not overpowering. Elegant tartness. Long finish, 60+sec. Superb. Will buy more.
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Big, bold and a little rough still. I think this needs two more years to mellow out some. Very concentrated cassis, plum, black cherry, tobacco and chocolate notes. Tannins still pretty high and chewy. Went well with steak, and a clear winner compared to an 07 silver oak that we also opened. But I think it needs some more time to better integrate.
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Drank with a 1991 Dunn Napa Valley Cab. 2006 drinking very well, tannins softening, red fruit bright and not overly forward. Big bouquet and long finish. Drinking with the older bottle, provided strong evidence that this wine will continue to evolve and mature and will continue to delight for at least another 15 years. Drink now or hold.
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See previous note....I wanted to give this another try since I have multiple bottles. It was outstanding but I can tell this will get even better with more bottle time. Seems to shedding its baby fat and developing more finesse with the fruit taking more of a role than the oak/tannins. Highly recommended but I won't open another for at least a year or two.
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Charcoal black with purple froth. Expansive terroir-driven bouquet of espresso, dark blackberries, volcanic soil, reminiscent of Galardi's Terra di Lavoro with a Napa identity. palate is full body and fleshy with round and ample tannins and a long finish of berry reduction. Stunning is the word. 95+
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Generous, layered, high toned fruit on the palate with air. really explodes on the back, finishing up well with spices and plenty of tannin. A baby at this stage, but with great material. Well worth revisiting in 5-10 years.
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Decanted for four hours. Exceptionally subtle on the finish,yet impeccably long. Pipe tobacco, cassis, blackberry, blood orange peel and violets. The tannic aspect is polished and evident, yet, she is quite approachable - a long decant is paramount. One of my favorite producers in California; another astonishing, ageless Cabernet of pensive qualities. Drink 2017-.
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Delicious! This is soft and silky now. Not a lot of aeration needed. Not as heavy and dark as some other Howell Mt. cabs. But it is a very nice drink. Hard to stop with this bottle.
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Another amazing Dunn Howell Mountain Cab, aerated for about 90 minutes, this was absolutely fabulous - Dark, full bodied with a nose of rich blackfruit, plum, cigar box, cedar and vanilla, amazing structure and decently integrated considering it's youth, intense, complex, sweet yet dusty on the palate with amazing length, outstanding! (96 Points).
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(Tasted Blind) Amazing nose on first pour. Caramelly, Espresso roast, definite green pyrazine indicating Bordeaux varietals. It seemed like perhaps a high-end 07 right bank Bordeaux, or 08 left bank, given it's openness and mix of high quality oak, ripeness, and green notes. Very old world profile. Light stinky sweat notes the add rather than detract, but still quite a green tannic wall on the palate. Lovely! 94 Points with loads of upside! Should be classic in a few years if it isn't already. The only thing that held me back this time is the greenness was quite in your face, however this had seen a lot of air time by the time I was tasting and I bet it will all integrate into a seamless package.
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Served after Rich graduation. No formal notes. I love the Dunn style: elegant and balanced. This wine is youthful and structured, but not overly backward or tannic. Delicious.
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This wine prides itself on cellaring. It deserves enormous respect for its impeccable balance. One can't help but be captivated by its color which is absolutely intoxicating not to mention its nose which prides itself on presenting a cornucopia of scents that suggest, nutmeg, lavender, roast beef, mint and rhubarb! My goodness this wine sings in your mouth as it reveals dark fruits like blueberries and blackberries before gripping your palate with fabulous tannins and ending with a very interesting finish suggestive of Turkish coffee and cream. Dunn is sophisticated in every sense. It is undoubtedly one of the most well made wines in California which is so well made and yet very affordable compared to countless other wineries whose wines aspire to be this good!
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Napa Cabs (Edina, MN): Very dark purple.red color. Decanted 2 hours. Drank 2 glasses over 2.5 hrs. This opened quite nicely to reveal a wonderful nose with earth, cassis, mint, and mineral. The palate was still somewhat unblanced and need additional time to fully integrate. There is nice black fruit, concentrated, cassis, black rapsberry, black cherry, full bodied, earthy. This is pretty tart right now and the tannins seem a bit unripe/green. At times I found the palate improving only to slip back to that same spot. This still very young, and I expect will be much better in about 2-3 years. 91+(+)pts.
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I really found this wine quite stunning. Fruit is perfectly ripe, not jammy loaded with raspberry, plum, blackberry. Actually resembles bordeaux from a good year. Full of perfectly integrated oak; chocolate, spice, earth, light kisses of stink. Wow! What a wine. I'm wondering if 95 points might be underrating this beauty. Palate enters sweet and lush, but hits a wall of structured tannin. This will undoubtedly get better with time.
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Dunn Vineyards Winemaker Dinner (The Village Pub, Woodside, CA): Rich aromas of mushrooms, warm baking spices and dark berries. Lovely velvety texture featuring spicy black fruits with a touch of leather and mushroom. Grippy tannins that could allow drinking now but could also benefit from more age.
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Very dark /black color; strained through Vinturi into decanter. A brooding beast of a wine. Extremely smooth and rich flavors permeate the nose. The palate seems to be composed of tart black fruit, cola, plum, blackberry. It tasted like blackberry, creme de cassis, forest floor, cedar, could certainly age a lot longer. I would say it likely will be another two years at least before I open another. Easily could age another 5-7 years before it comes into its own. Just extremely good now but will be outstanding once in the ideal drinking window. Typical Dunn Howell Mountain wine in that it needs more time than others to develop into the powerhouse it will become.
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I tasted several Dunn wines at the winery last winter with the vivacious Kristina Dunn (Randy Dunn wandered in an out, offering comments). I bought six of these and six of the '08 Howell Mountain. This is my first bottle of the '06. Clear dark garnet with a purple tint. Nose of smoke, mint, blackberry, and cassis. Ripe medium-to-full palate bursting with bright blackberry, blueberry, cassis, graphite, and minerals. Very subtle oak. Refreshing acidity. Superb length. Sweet tannins. This wine is wonderful and very drinkable now. However, it should age gracefully for years and years.
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Way too young, and we didn't get enough of a decant on it, only about and hour or so, then drank over the next 2 or 3.
Tightly wound at first of course, but started to open up through the evening. Once it did I started getting nice notes of dark fruit with maybe a hint of eucalyptus...
Not a bad bottle by any means, just outmatched in this linup.
Give this more time in the cellar, or a long decant now.
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Reasonable California Cabernet (Charlie Palmer, Washington, DC): This was a bit challenged by its neighbors but it still showed very well. Great balance, loads of tannin reserves and great smell of dark chocolate. Very smooth and clearly one of the wines that I would still put aside for a little while.
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Napa & Sonoma Trip (Dunn, O'Shaughnessy, Conn Valley, Seavey, TOR, Jemrose, Hansel); 7/23/2012-7/26/2012: Still had the same dark red profile of cherry and currants, but preferred the balance and finish of this wine to the 04 and 05. 06 continues to be a vintage I gravitate towards and Dunn is no exception. As with most Dunns, this has the structure to age, and I would wait many years for this to become really special.
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Beautiful sweet nose of tobacco and licorice with a bit of subtle barnyard. Graceful on the palate with dominant cola and black fruit. Good length. Was very closed straight out of the bottle, began to show itself after two hours. Still drinking great at 24 hours.
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Very poised, somewhat reserved, offering intense gravel-like minerality which frames the smoky black fruit aromas. Appealingly lush, with excellent ripeness to its tannins, medium to medium+ bodied with black fruit, herb, and mineral flavors. Approachable now, but could use time to round out.
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to me, this is what a great wine is about. Dark, deep, tannic but still letting the beautiful mountain fruit and its mountainous struggle show through. one of those wines I drink and ask why I just don't buy cases and drink this instead of trying anything new
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Oh this stuff is delicious. Pours deep ruby with aromas of ripe red berries and cherries with anise, spice, toasted oak and crushed rocks. Medium full on the tongue with defined tannins that seem to crunch when you chewy it. The finish lingers with notes of black currant and minerality. Well made!
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ERI November Auction and Tasting (Union League Club of Chicago): This was a nice wine. Closed the first time I tried it, but the second time it was quite expressive. Classic Napa Cabernet. Wouldn't mind having a few bottles of this. Don't remember many specifics on it though, just remember liking it.
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My second Dunn Howell mountain. It was completely different from the rich and concentrated 2004. The 2006 was very refined, pure and reserved, compared to the 2004, and probably not yet ready to drink in the sense that much of its potential may be still hidden. So most people would probably prefer the intense 2004, but I rather liked the 2006, as it reminded me slightly of a 1995 latour. My friends preferred the more mature 1997 Grgich cab, but I have noticed people tend to prefer the wine they themselves chose, or that comes recommended by their own storekeeper.
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Rich, full bodied wine. Not as tannic as I thought it would be. (This was my first time trying Dunn) Almost lush, but you can tell it's mountain fruit. Really nice wine. 91-93
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Very firm tannins but quite fruity and drinkable for such a young cab from this winemaker. I tasted this as part of a vertical tasting from 2002 to 2006 at Prima Vini in Walnut Creek, CA. Rich flavors of cassis and dark fruits with a nice but not overwhelming oaky finish.
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3/24/2024 - WojoWineCave wrote: 96 Points
This wine was outstanding. Drank from magnum. Gosh the purity and mouthfeel shocked me. No tannins.
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1/27/2024 - mojotojo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Typical Dunn but with some interesting nuances. Excellent cassis and blackberry flavors bolstered by pencil shavings, cedar, tobacco and very, very distinctive leather component. I was going to call it baseball glove but my girlfriend corrected me. It was, and she is absolutely correct, new Louis Vuitton leather. Wow! A 30 minute decant was all that was needed for this wine to fully blossom. The nose leapt from the glass and was captivating. Silky smooth, the still-present tannins have softened and sweetened considerably. As with most Dunns, this one can go another decade or two, but it's singing right now.
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9/21/2023 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine: 94 Points
3 hour double decant
not as perfect as the 2014 tasted a few weeks ago but a great Cabernet and excellent example and a joy to drink
I have opened two others but feel it is just now in its prime.
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3/5/2023 - jbaron wrote: 93 Points
Most of the structure has resolved into a still slightly closed but rich Cabernet with lots of good notes.
Could stand some further years for some further improvement.
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2/10/2023 - Thomas D Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep ruby garnet color; nose of dark red fruit and licorice;smooth tannins, cocoa plum and graphite with long finish. Drinking very well now. The cork crumbled but the wine was solid and and had plenty of life in it.
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7/30/2022 - acheng wrote: 91 Points
Tasted against the 2001 1995 and 1986. This is young and clearly on the primary fruit spectrum. Reminds me more of the Napa bottling instead. Has plenty of life ahead.
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4/28/2022 - George de La Tour Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still drinking nicely.
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1/17/2022 - travelme Likes this wine: 95 Points
Absolutely wonderful bottle. Smooth as silk. Great bottle with a lingering long finish.
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12/15/2021 - barrytaylor Likes this wine: 94 Points
Super ready. deep color, long finish, 1 hr air in decanter, continues to improve over next 2hrs
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11/27/2021 - SparkyMI Likes this wine: 96 Points
Fantastic wine.
My first of 12. This is still in it's absolute youth. The wine is very harmonious already, but 5 more years will soften the few remaining tanins.
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9/18/2021 - johnnylaw1222 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great wine. Decanted an hour and fifteen, but still drinking surprisingly young. Dunn never disappoints. Those mountain vines offer lush Napa fruit complimented by nice acidity and tannin.
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8/8/2021 - OttawaB Likes this wine: 96 Points
Beautiful wine, and better on second day. Dark inky ruby/with tea colour mixed in. Cassis, dark berry fruits, sweet tobacco, spices. Wonderful complexity to flavours. Dusty drying tannins. Great structure. Sweet berry fruit with some bitterness. Very cabernet sauvignon-like. Medium fruit, medium acid, medium tannin. Long finish.
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7/11/2021 - allenn1999 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Initially closed and seemed tight. Pours dark inky bloody ruby and nose had some interesting tea spice, iron chalk mineral, and dark cherry. Palette was a little tight initially. Cab flavor was nice. Very Bordeaux like. Tannins still seems present. But the next day it was even better. Beautful medium body and layered with all the aforementioned but just more delineated. Long finish like more than 30 sec. Very nice but probably could age another 10 years and still be beautiful. Not as heavy as many other Cali cabs so nice change. Sad it’s my last bottle.
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6/20/2021 - Central Coast Sharon Likes this wine:
Rich and smooth on the palate with a touch of tobacco on the finish. Delightful.
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4/2/2021 - JGinMO wrote: 93 Points
Needed the 2 hr decant to open a bit, lose a medicinal air. Soft, layered, with currant, menthol, earth tones. Terrific.
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2/26/2021 - msuwine wrote: 92 Points
This savory and dense Cabernet seems shut down at the moment, with few of the aromatic fireworks I had expected. Garnet in color; medium in body; aromas of black cherry and graphite. Dense flavors of espresso, boysenberry, and leather, with a tannic and grainy finish. Decant two hours, if not more. 13.8% alcohol. I preferred a 2005 and 2009 I've had in the past year or so, but I'm just starting to get a sense of these wines. 92+ at the moment, but upside when / if it wakes up.
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2/1/2021 - barrytaylor Likes this wine: 94 Points
same as last tasting. very dark color, best decanted, still has some time to go, nice legs, outstanding with beef wellington
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11/18/2020 - doug374 Likes this wine: 95 Points
A wonderful balanced cab. Aged perfectly and likely to hold here for 5-10 years. Floral and earth notes.
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11/8/2020 - JR_Boston wrote: 94 Points
10 Year Tasting @ Cobble (1997-2006)
Body and finish we top of the charts for this vintage. Nose and taste weren’t quite as good as the 04 or 01
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8/1/2020 - LWI wrote: 93 Points
Hold 5-10 years
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3/29/2020 - Radboy wrote: 93 Points
Terrific wine.
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2/16/2020 - Been There wrote: 94 Points
From winery, at release. Medium deep youthful garnet, no sign of detrimental age. Bordeaux-like Cab nose, complex and complete... not flamboyant.
This is not a beauty pageant Cabernet that shocks the senses. Some of those are great. This is more for people who have “been around the block” with Cabernet through time and across geographies. It can be appreciated by wine drinkers and wine makers in the Old and New Worlds.
Because the overall impression is balance, completeness, and drinkability already (despite Dunn age worthiness) I’ll skip descriptors except to underscore that it’s not sappy adolescent fruit dominant, not acidity dominant, not tannin dominant, etc.
I suspect it is locked in a long plateau for several years, and will stay restrained yet lacking nothing, balanced but not boring. A wine enjoyed for its quality not its excesses, much like drinking some super-second growth Bordeaux.
Based on two decades plus of Dunns, please be aware that there can be significant vintage variations. I actually dislike a couple vintages, and that’s probably fine with Randy. While many Dunn generalizations are correct (and the @#*& wax isn’t going anywhere), not all Dunn Howell Mountains are the same.
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2/13/2020 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine: 97 Points
I don’t know why I had mixed expectations going into this wine but boy did this one catch me off-guard. Exceptional Napa nose: fragrant and opulent dark fruits while restrained almost teasing what was to come. Smooth, rich full body on the palate, the blackberry and bramble notes were singing in all their glory with a lovely plush long finish. This wine was like a relief pitcher in baseball coming in and throwing 97 miles per hour right down the middle of the plate and striking the batter out on three pitches without breaking a sweat. This swan-like wine was beautiful while seaming effortless in its delivery.
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1/17/2020 - VoteferPedro wrote: 93 Points
ripe with resolve tannins
got 2 hours air
This is en point
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12/29/2019 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:
Decanted for several hours. Plum and creme de cassis. Dark cherry, and dark chocolate dust. Leather and smoke. Fruit is focused but in balance, with a strong, silky structure. Enjoyed with food and alone, this has a long life ahead. Classic mountain cab, bravo.
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12/24/2019 - Redteeth wrote:
This wine was in great shape. it was double decanted back into the bottle. It was classic Napa and a pleasure to drink. My sense is that it will last several more years if desired.
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11/8/2019 - t_moderne wrote: 94 Points
Pop and pour.
Dark purple color.
Wonderful nose of black plum, cherry and a mint/herbal side.
So fresh and delicious with good ripe fruit (plum and cherry) and a fresh herb side with some lead pencil on the finish.
A beautiful wine.
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10/15/2019 - Hamersly wrote: 95 Points
A wonderful wine in the early stage of its prime drinking window. Both authoritative and lush, a perfect compliment to a NY strip.
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6/24/2019 - hajoha wrote: 92 Points
Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2006.
Tettpakket polert frukbombe som akkurat begynner å slippe til sekundæraromaene.
Konsentrert mørk frukt - mangler kanskje ørlite friskhet.
Stor kropp med kjøtt og flesk.
Sitter som et skudd til Boeuf.
Ikke voldsom struktur, men for min del kan dette godt ligge lenger.
Meget lang med fine tanniner. 92p
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5/26/2019 - jan erik wrote: 94 Points
Perfect balance.
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7/16/2018 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lamenting this is my last bottle. 2 hour decant and this wine shines. Super effort, dark color, seductive nose of berries earth tar and medium/full mouth feel with amazing layers of flavors and a long, lingering finish. You want to drink this beautiful wine but must pace yourself to enjoy it all during dinner. Could easily drink this by itself. One of the best California Cab Producer. Cant wait for my 2007’s.
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2/10/2018 - nm10 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Purple colour with suble bricking on the edges. Currants, blueberries, and charcoal. Very nice balance, with a perfect touch of toasty oak. 40-second finish was a little clipped, but still very nice. Needs a 45 minute decant, as the wine hit its stride after 2 hours.
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11/4/2017 - Blake Brown Likes this wine:
2006 DUNN VINEYARDS HOWELL MOUNTAIN NAPA CABERNET SAUVIGNON- I brought this full well thinking it was probably going to be the youngest of all of the Cab brings, but the 2012 Insignia took that honour; I was happy to discover this bottle was ready to perform and although youthful, it had an incredible balance and a great fresh ripe dark fruit profile; I got generous amounts of liquorice, cedar, smoke and vanilla laden blackberry; there`s an obvious underlying tannic structure that supports longevity, but it`s in no way astringent; the mouthfeel is a hallmark with a silky, smooth texture
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10/27/2017 - Troon wrote: 93 Points
This wine was just fantastic. It was cellar stored since release. Opened as anniversary wine, and it did not disappoint. We decanted the wine for two hours and drank over the next three. The nose had tobacco and fresh strawberries. The palate was red fruit with a long finish. It was a great representation of Dunn, and I can’t wait to try this again in five years as I feel it has 10 years easily left in it.
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9/17/2017 - madalyn Likes this wine: 94 Points
wow, drinking great now
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8/12/2017 - Barnaby33 wrote:
Finally a Dunn ready to drink. Gave it 40 minutes of air and it was very nice. A bit thin on the finish for a Dunn, but 2006 was the heat spike year.
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7/16/2017 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 97 Points
Dark violet/garnet color turning dusty orange rust at the rim with a reflective edge. The nose is quite dense at the initial approach but as it evolves in the glass it slowly reveals floral fragrances, pen ink, and butterscotch on ripe, dark fruits. Full-bodied, dense and creamy, this has very persistent and powerful flavors of blueberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, mocha, vanilla bean. Very remarkable for a vintage that normally displays some green notes. Finishes long, ripe and mentholated with no rough edges whatsoever. Fantastic!
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3/18/2017 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Tried it after 15 minutes and it seemed light weight but with decent nose and balance. An hour & 45 minutes later it was transformed into an amazing experience. Seemed to add so much weight & complexity during the decant. Wonderful chocolate & leather on the palate with gobs of layering of flavors. Long finish & paired with Prime Rib Eye so was perfectly matched.
This is in such an amazing drinking window that I will address the 2005 & 2006 in the next few weeks. For a year that wasn't supposed to be amazing this wine is amazing. Can't wait to have another bottle.
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3/13/2017 - Wink Likes this wine: 95 Points
This bottle was the best of the bunch I have opened to date. I double decanted it 6 hours befor serving with prime beef tenderloin. Wow! The decant really softened this wine - which I found pretty tight when I last opened a bottle a year ago. It was fresh, energetic, and brimming with delicious Howell Mountain fruit and minerals. Superb length and mouthwatering acidity.
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2/13/2017 - Kyle_Stewart wrote: 94 Points
Adsolutely loved this wine. 1 hour decant, drink over 2 hours at Olde Pink House in Savannah. Delicious! Most impressive part of this wine was the texture, just layers of flavor, reminiscent of pages from a book. Can't wait to buy more!
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1/1/2017 - bonedoc wrote: 93 Points
Tastes like a modern style left bank Bordeaux, (as usual), very nice wine.
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12/29/2016 - nm10 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted two hours. This opened up into a beautiful wine. Dark fruits but not jammy, excellent balance.
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12/4/2016 - sw92130 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Most of the Dunns I've had in the past have had a very strong barnyard smell. Not this 2006! It was a pleasant surprise and was delicious with our Thanksgiving Rib Roast. Opened with a 2006 Pride Reserve Cab (more fruit, as expected). Both were great.
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11/6/2016 - Grinner wrote: 93 Points
20th Annual Lyon 10 Year Retrospective: The Mish Mash (Lyon Den): Surprisingly soft for the appellation and producer, but it's still a big wine. The glycerin gives it away as New World in this blind tasting. The tannins finally show up mid-palate and then the black fruit, mocha, spice, and stone flavors just go on and on. 93 on day 2. Now-2026.
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10/8/2016 - MarkMich wrote: 94 Points
decanted for two hours and drank over 2 more. served with grilled NY strip. Absolutely beautiful wine and in a great place.
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7/6/2016 - Isalasdad Likes this wine: 93 Points
Since 1979, one of the best California Cabs from Howell Mountain.
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6/13/2016 - schirri1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Big, dark, juicy - excellent with the New York Strip we had. Silky smooth with some lovely smokey notes. Can't wait for the next bottle.
Opened and left to breathe in the bottle.
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5/30/2016 - levinml wrote:
Can't really rate. Popped and poured first night, so didn't have much time to breath, although seemed nice. Second night drank after a bunch of other stuff so really couldn't pay attention.
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4/23/2016 - jnocera Likes this wine: 94 Points
Classic Dunn very balanced with good fruit and tannins are integrated. Drinking earlier than I expected.
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4/16/2016 - gejohnston Likes this wine: 94 Points
Loved it. I was a little scared to drink a Dunn Howell before its actual 10th birthday however this one killed it. amazing wine. I wish I had more than 2 bottles remaining.
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4/8/2016 - danstrings Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great silky classic Napa cab.. A little flashier than in the old days, more oozing seductive fruit vs the old cigar ash and minerals, but still great.
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3/16/2016 - rwstorer wrote: 94 Points
- Purple color and aromas of blackberry and cherry. It's balanced and has flavours of blackberry with a medium/full body. Polished texture.
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3/11/2016 - Crunge Likes this wine: 93 Points
A nice way to finish the week. Quite refined and more subtle than expected, but delicious. Soft to medium tannins, dark fruits, and a hint of earth. Good finish. I'd enjoy this wine with a good book and Mahler in the background. My fiancee and I enjoyed while solving the world's problems.
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3/5/2016 - Wink Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brought this to dinner at Bouquet. My first bottle of this wine since 2013. No formal notes. It was much tighter than I remember, but still superb.
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2/2/2016 - LWI wrote: 92 Points
US Cabernet Sauvignon: Some bell pepper, herbal; structured, good freshness.
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12/13/2015 - levinml Likes this wine:
Oops, I did it again; drank my third bottle this year (had 8 at the start of the year, so it always seemed like something I had enough of to try). But I'm enthusiastic. Very drinkable now with lots of upside yet. Not at all a tannic monster you would expect from Dunn. Good flavors out front. This is drinkable, but I promise to wait at least another year or more until having another.
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10/28/2015 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 92 Points
Tried this at Chef Geoff in Tysons. First time trying Dunn so I wasn't sure what to expect. Called ahead for a two and a half hour decant. Color was a deep garnet with brown edges. The nose was very tight, savory, greens, dark dirt and something like a dirty garage. Started with savory notes in the palate then completely changed. Moderate tannins and body that was smooth and silky. Very well integrated with some dark fruit, maybe a little cassis. Finish was shorter than expected but still moderate. Overall not a bad wine at all but the finish knocked the points down a bit.
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5/27/2015 - jan erik wrote: 89 Points
Nothing special about this. Quite flat and uninspiring at the moment
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5/25/2015 - JGinMO wrote: 93 Points
Was forced to open and pour, but got to enjoy over a 90 min dinner. This one seems nearly into the window, and with a longer decant might just be. Great fruit with secondary flavors, soft but with plenty of backbone.
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5/13/2015 - levinml Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank a month after another bottle of same. Forgot, or I wouldn't have done it so soon. But consistent notes both ties; good drinking, especially this young. Good nose, balance and finish with classic cal cab flavors. Likely to stay as good or get better for a while.
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4/10/2015 - levinml wrote: 94 Points
Excellent drinking over two nights (under pump). Nice fruit and secondary flavors/complexity without being tear searingly tannic. Will get better still for a while. Great value too compared to other near $100 bottles.
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2/24/2015 - awise45 wrote: 96 Points
Continues to get better with a little more time. Firm, tannic, but burst of secondary flavors and long lingering dark fruits.
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2/4/2015 - danstrings Likes this wine: 92 Points
Showing great, sleek and juicy yet balanced. Amazing food wine while at Alexander's Steakhouse SF (priiiime riiibbbbbbb!!!)
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11/23/2014 - awise45 wrote: 95 Points
Really impressive -- dark purple and rich nose, mellow and very rich throughout. Nice blend of light spice and mellow sweetness.
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11/16/2014 - Pebben wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for two hours before tasting. Dark purple core, pink rim. Beautiful and complex nose with hints of dark forest berries, cigar-leaves, dry soil, exotic spices, espresso, liquorish and vanilla-toffee. Smooth, well balanced and long – has that magical combination power and poise that only top wines possess. Absolutely no crime in opening this now, but given the high fruit quality and current structure level I wouldn’t be surprised if it continues to improve over the next three to four years. Very nice indeed! (93-95 points).
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11/9/2014 - napadirt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicious! Powerful nose of cherries, vanilla, apple, and smoke. Concentrated dark fruit and thick body. Big chewy grainy tannins, but not overpowering. Elegant tartness. Long finish, 60+sec. Superb. Will buy more.
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9/1/2014 - budh wrote: 93 Points
Big, bold and a little rough still. I think this needs two more years to mellow out some. Very concentrated cassis, plum, black cherry, tobacco and chocolate notes. Tannins still pretty high and chewy. Went well with steak, and a clear winner compared to an 07 silver oak that we also opened. But I think it needs some more time to better integrate.
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8/17/2014 - brouigu1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
My first of the 2006 vintage and it did not disappoint. Beautiful full nose with dark cherries, blackberry, leather and spices.
Dark color and very limited clarity. The tannin is soft and well integrated with the dark fruits, espresso, vanilla and a smidgen of herbal elements.
This is a dark bruiting wine right now and quite enjoyable but I feel that a few more years will release the beast within.
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8/17/2014 - bobvictor Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank with a 1991 Dunn Napa Valley Cab. 2006 drinking very well, tannins softening, red fruit bright and not overly forward. Big bouquet and long finish. Drinking with the older bottle, provided strong evidence that this wine will continue to evolve and mature and will continue to delight for at least another 15 years. Drink now or hold.
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8/4/2014 - travelme Likes this wine: 94 Points
See previous note....I wanted to give this another try since I have multiple bottles. It was outstanding but I can tell this will get even better with more bottle time. Seems to shedding its baby fat and developing more finesse with the fruit taking more of a role than the oak/tannins. Highly recommended but I won't open another for at least a year or two.
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4/12/2014 - farinas Likes this wine: 95 Points
Charcoal black with purple froth. Expansive terroir-driven bouquet of espresso, dark blackberries, volcanic soil, reminiscent of Galardi's Terra di Lavoro with a Napa identity. palate is full body and fleshy with round and ample tannins and a long finish of berry reduction. Stunning is the word. 95+
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4/4/2014 - Robert Pavlovich Likes this wine:
Generous, layered, high toned fruit on the palate with air. really explodes on the back, finishing up well with spices and plenty of tannin. A baby at this stage, but with great material. Well worth revisiting in 5-10 years.
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1/12/2014 - tfharris Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well right now.
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9/8/2013 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for four hours. Exceptionally subtle on the finish,yet impeccably long. Pipe tobacco, cassis, blackberry, blood orange peel and violets. The tannic aspect is polished and evident, yet, she is quite approachable - a long decant is paramount. One of my favorite producers in California; another astonishing, ageless Cabernet of pensive qualities. Drink 2017-.
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9/6/2013 - Mossy wrote: 94 Points
Delicious! This is soft and silky now. Not a lot of aeration needed. Not as heavy and dark as some other Howell Mt. cabs. But it is a very nice drink. Hard to stop with this bottle.
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6/17/2013 - awise45 wrote: 94 Points
Too early, but showing great promise. Really opened up with time.
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5/18/2013 - Tarrant wrote: 96 Points
Another amazing Dunn Howell Mountain Cab, aerated for about 90 minutes, this was absolutely fabulous - Dark, full bodied with a nose of rich blackfruit, plum, cigar box, cedar and vanilla, amazing structure and decently integrated considering it's youth, intense, complex, sweet yet dusty on the palate with amazing length, outstanding! (96 Points).
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5/14/2013 - Wine Canuck Likes this wine: 94 Points
(Tasted Blind) Amazing nose on first pour. Caramelly, Espresso roast, definite green pyrazine indicating Bordeaux varietals. It seemed like perhaps a high-end 07 right bank Bordeaux, or 08 left bank, given it's openness and mix of high quality oak, ripeness, and green notes. Very old world profile. Light stinky sweat notes the add rather than detract, but still quite a green tannic wall on the palate. Lovely! 94 Points with loads of upside! Should be classic in a few years if it isn't already. The only thing that held me back this time is the greenness was quite in your face, however this had seen a lot of air time by the time I was tasting and I bet it will all integrate into a seamless package.
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5/12/2013 - Wink Likes this wine: 94 Points
Served after Rich graduation. No formal notes. I love the Dunn style: elegant and balanced. This wine is youthful and structured, but not overly backward or tannic. Delicious.
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5/10/2013 - Wine Nut Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine prides itself on cellaring. It deserves enormous respect for its impeccable balance. One can't help but be captivated by its color which is absolutely intoxicating not to mention its nose which prides itself on presenting a cornucopia of scents that suggest, nutmeg, lavender, roast beef, mint and rhubarb! My goodness this wine sings in your mouth as it reveals dark fruits like blueberries and blackberries before gripping your palate with fabulous tannins and ending with a very interesting finish suggestive of Turkish coffee and cream. Dunn is sophisticated in every sense. It is undoubtedly one of the most well made wines in California which is so well made and yet very affordable compared to countless other wineries whose wines aspire to be this good!
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4/26/2013 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 92 Points
I enjoyed this wine and improved throughout the night. Dust, minerals, raspberries and spices. Medium to long finish and enjoyable. Well done! 92-94.
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4/13/2013 - aligaray Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent wine, decanted 3 hrs prior to steak meal. Wonderful balance and minerality.
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3/17/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Napa Cabs (Edina, MN): Very dark purple.red color. Decanted 2 hours. Drank 2 glasses over 2.5 hrs. This opened quite nicely to reveal a wonderful nose with earth, cassis, mint, and mineral. The palate was still somewhat unblanced and need additional time to fully integrate. There is nice black fruit, concentrated, cassis, black rapsberry, black cherry, full bodied, earthy. This is pretty tart right now and the tannins seem a bit unripe/green. At times I found the palate improving only to slip back to that same spot. This still very young, and I expect will be much better in about 2-3 years. 91+(+)pts.
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3/16/2013 - Wine Canuck Likes this wine: 95 Points
I really found this wine quite stunning. Fruit is perfectly ripe, not jammy loaded with raspberry, plum, blackberry. Actually resembles bordeaux from a good year. Full of perfectly integrated oak; chocolate, spice, earth, light kisses of stink. Wow! What a wine. I'm wondering if 95 points might be underrating this beauty. Palate enters sweet and lush, but hits a wall of structured tannin. This will undoubtedly get better with time.
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2/25/2013 - BinVA wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic bottle, slightly better than the 06 O'Shaughnessy we draft after this bottle.
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2/11/2013 - kosinski wrote:
Dunn Vineyards Winemaker Dinner (The Village Pub, Woodside, CA): Rich aromas of mushrooms, warm baking spices and dark berries. Lovely velvety texture featuring spicy black fruits with a touch of leather and mushroom. Grippy tannins that could allow drinking now but could also benefit from more age.
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1/7/2013 - cab blends wrote: 91 Points
This did not stun but was pleasant and enjoyable -- smooth and integrated with moderate to light oak and a subtle hint of berry.
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12/31/2012 - travelme wrote: 94 Points
Very dark /black color; strained through Vinturi into decanter. A brooding beast of a wine. Extremely smooth and rich flavors permeate the nose. The palate seems to be composed of tart black fruit, cola, plum, blackberry. It tasted like blackberry, creme de cassis, forest floor, cedar, could certainly age a lot longer. I would say it likely will be another two years at least before I open another. Easily could age another 5-7 years before it comes into its own. Just extremely good now but will be outstanding once in the ideal drinking window. Typical Dunn Howell Mountain wine in that it needs more time than others to develop into the powerhouse it will become.
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10/20/2012 - Wink wrote: 94 Points
I tasted several Dunn wines at the winery last winter with the vivacious Kristina Dunn (Randy Dunn wandered in an out, offering comments). I bought six of these and six of the '08 Howell Mountain. This is my first bottle of the '06. Clear dark garnet with a purple tint. Nose of smoke, mint, blackberry, and cassis. Ripe medium-to-full palate bursting with bright blackberry, blueberry, cassis, graphite, and minerals. Very subtle oak. Refreshing acidity. Superb length. Sweet tannins. This wine is wonderful and very drinkable now. However, it should age gracefully for years and years.
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10/1/2012 - Gestalted wrote: 90 Points
Pours medium violet/red. Foresty nose with tobacco cherry. Medium/light weight on the palate, finish repeats the nose with soft tannins.
--
Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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9/6/2012 - wineberg Likes this wine: 92 Points
DC Dinner #2 with PinkMoon! (Chalie Palmer (DC)): Had next to 02 Lokoya Mt Veeder, 07 Kapcsandy Grand Vin, and 09 Vine Hill Ranch.
Way too young, and we didn't get enough of a decant on it, only about and hour or so, then drank over the next 2 or 3.
Tightly wound at first of course, but started to open up through the evening. Once it did I started getting nice notes of dark fruit with maybe a hint of eucalyptus...
Not a bad bottle by any means, just outmatched in this linup.
Give this more time in the cellar, or a long decant now.
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9/6/2012 - G_H Likes this wine: 92 Points
Reasonable California Cabernet (Charlie Palmer, Washington, DC): This was a bit challenged by its neighbors but it still showed very well. Great balance, loads of tannin reserves and great smell of dark chocolate. Very smooth and clearly one of the wines that I would still put aside for a little while.
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8/9/2012 - G_H Likes this wine: 91 Points
this is very smooth, but still way too young and loads of tanin reserves. really good right now but im sure it will develop well...
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7/24/2012 - vinole wrote: 93 Points
Napa & Sonoma Trip (Dunn, O'Shaughnessy, Conn Valley, Seavey, TOR, Jemrose, Hansel); 7/23/2012-7/26/2012: Still had the same dark red profile of cherry and currants, but preferred the balance and finish of this wine to the 04 and 05. 06 continues to be a vintage I gravitate towards and Dunn is no exception. As with most Dunns, this has the structure to age, and I would wait many years for this to become really special.
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6/29/2012 - Cschall wrote: 95 Points
Huge wine... Decanted for 2 hours and still found great complexity despite its immaturity. Save till 2015 - at least!
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6/27/2012 - maxwellh Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful sweet nose of tobacco and licorice with a bit of subtle barnyard. Graceful on the palate with dominant cola and black fruit. Good length. Was very closed straight out of the bottle, began to show itself after two hours. Still drinking great at 24 hours.
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6/16/2012 - bigdogflow Likes this wine:
Tasted at 2012 Taste of Howell Mountain
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5/8/2012 - wino_tim wrote: 94 Points
Very poised, somewhat reserved, offering intense gravel-like minerality which frames the smoky black fruit aromas. Appealingly lush, with excellent ripeness to its tannins, medium to medium+ bodied with black fruit, herb, and mineral flavors. Approachable now, but could use time to round out.
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4/6/2012 - GlassHalfFull wrote: 93 Points
Huge. Sure, its young, but its still a pleasure now.
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8/16/2011 - muredskin14 wrote: 95 Points
to me, this is what a great wine is about. Dark, deep, tannic but still letting the beautiful mountain fruit and its mountainous struggle show through. one of those wines I drink and ask why I just don't buy cases and drink this instead of trying anything new
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1/12/2011 - GreatLibations wrote: 94 Points
Oh this stuff is delicious. Pours deep ruby with aromas of ripe red berries and cherries with anise, spice, toasted oak and crushed rocks. Medium full on the tongue with defined tannins that seem to crunch when you chewy it. The finish lingers with notes of black currant and minerality. Well made!
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11/30/2010 - Double-A Likes this wine: 95 Points
Concentrated and precise currant cherry, asphalt and vanilla nose. Firm tannins with balanced fruit; great minerality and length.
5/5
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11/7/2010 - razmaspaz wrote: 90 Points
ERI November Auction and Tasting (Union League Club of Chicago): This was a nice wine. Closed the first time I tried it, but the second time it was quite expressive. Classic Napa Cabernet. Wouldn't mind having a few bottles of this. Don't remember many specifics on it though, just remember liking it.
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9/29/2010 - mathwonk wrote:
My second Dunn Howell mountain. It was completely different from the rich and concentrated 2004. The 2006 was very refined, pure and reserved, compared to the 2004, and probably not yet ready to drink in the sense that much of its potential may be still hidden. So most people would probably prefer the intense 2004, but I rather liked the 2006, as it reminded me slightly of a 1995 latour. My friends preferred the more mature 1997 Grgich cab, but I have noticed people tend to prefer the wine they themselves chose, or that comes recommended by their own storekeeper.
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9/13/2010 - hutch wrote: 92 Points
Rich, full bodied wine. Not as tannic as I thought it would be. (This was my first time trying Dunn) Almost lush, but you can tell it's mountain fruit. Really nice wine. 91-93
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3/13/2010 - FoodMuse Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very firm tannins but quite fruity and drinkable for such a young cab from this winemaker. I tasted this as part of a vertical tasting from 2002 to 2006 at Prima Vini in Walnut Creek, CA. Rich flavors of cassis and dark fruits with a nice but not overwhelming oaky finish.
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