In 1972, Randy Dunn established a vineyard on Howell Mountain. He opened his winery in 1979, releasing his first Howell Mountain Cabernet in 1981, followed a year later by a Napa Valley bottling. He immediately shot up the list of California's finest Cab producers.
His Napa Valley bottling is about 85% Howell Mountain fruit, softened with 15% softer, less tannic fruit from the valley floor. It is more a more approachable style Cabernet than his Howell Mountain bottling, with a rounder, gentler style that makes it a better drinker from an early age, but it still has the structure and concentration to age.
Reviews
Wine Advocate 96 Points
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is simply extraordinary. Layers of dark fruit, flowers, licorice, spices and mint are beautifully woven together. With time in the glass the wine’s striking inner perfume takes center stage. Tar, smoke, flowers, red berries and licorice are some of the nuances that reappear on the finish, while gorgeous aromatics are laced throughout. I could go on. Let me make it simple: this is a flat-out great bottle of wine from Randy Dunn. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2033.-AG
