{"product_id":"dunn-vineyards-cabernet-sauvignon-howell-mountain-2017","title":"Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoe Czerwinski, Robert Parker, May 2022 - 96P:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlready more open than the 2018 Howell Mountain, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain boasts slightly piney, resinous herb notes—thyme and rosemary—along with classic cassis and blueberry fruit. Yes, there's a cedary coat of oak, but the fruit comes through loud and clear, adding a rich, velvety textural component and mouthwatering berry flavors on the lingering finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sc-jMZVPV jBWMMx\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eSomehow, Dunn fell off the radar of my predecessor after the 2015 vintage. While I didn't have time to backtrack through all of the missed years, I was able to taste the 2017s and 2018s during my visit to the family compound on Howell Mountain. Mike Dunn has taken over most of the winemaking responsibilities from his stepfather, Randy Dunn, but Randy is still around and constantly tinkering. \"I end up spending a lot of my time in the barn, fixing stuff,\" he said.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eRandy got his start as a crush hand at Caymus, working for Chuck Wagner in 1975. \"I learned a lot at Caymus,\" he said. \"At the time, they had a German winemaker who specialized in Riesling. He didn't know much about red winemaking.\" Dunn's first vintage under his own label was in 1979—the first few vintages were bottled at Caymus—and in 1985 he left to devote his full time to Dunn.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eBack in 1982, Randy purchased bulk wine for his first Napa Valley bottling, \"I paid $12.50 per gallon and sold it for $12.50 per bottle,\" said Dunn. But the supply of good bulk wine dried up around 1990, and he started to purchase grapes.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eMike Dunn describes himself as a bicycle geek rather than a wine nerd, but he came back to help Randy with the wine business in 1999, after his sister, Jennifer Dunn, died of bacterial meningitis while attending Chico State. Younger sister, Kristina Dunn-Buchanan, helps manage the office and hospitality side of things.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eThese remain stubbornly backward, classic renderings of Napa Cabernet, always reined in—sometimes through the use of technology—and always age-worthy, starting to really show their true value after a decade (sometimes more) of aging. I still have the 1996s, bought to commemorate our oldest son's birth year, hidden away in my cellar, with no worries about how they're developing.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAntonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2020 - 97P:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is sure to make Dunn fans happy. Powerful and ample, it marries the natural intensity of the year with the savoriness that makes Howell Mountain Cabernets so distinctive. Dark blue\/purplish fruit, graphite, spice, leather, dried herbs and lavender imbue the 2017 with striking intensity and character. I can't wait to see how it ages. The 2017 is a positively stunning edition of the Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGeneral Information:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDunn Vineyards stands as an iconic Napa Valley winery, established in 1978 when Randy and Lori Dunn purchased a 14-acre parcel on Howell Mountain with 5 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Randy, who was initially working as a winemaker at Caymus Estate, produced the inaugural vintage in 1979.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 class=\"mb-2 mt-6 text-lg first:mt-3\"\u003eVineyard and Location\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe winery sits high above the Napa Valley floor at an elevation of 1,400 feet on Howell Mountain, where the unique microclimate provides more sunshine and moderate temperatures compared to the valley below. Today, the estate encompasses:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"marker:text-textOff list-disc pl-8\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e42 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVolcanic soil with iron-rich red clay and tufa limestone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA natural setting surrounded by native vegetation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4 class=\"mb-2 mt-6 text-lg first:mt-3\"\u003eWine Production\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDunn Vineyards specializes in two distinct Cabernet Sauvignons:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"marker:text-textOff list-disc pl-8\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHowell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (red wax capsule)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNapa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBoth wines are 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for 32 months in French oak. The winery maintains a modest annual production of approximately 5,000 cases.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 class=\"mb-2 mt-6 text-lg first:mt-3\"\u003eFamily Business\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe winery has evolved into a true family enterprise:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"marker:text-textOff list-disc pl-8\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRandy's son Mike joined full-time after initially helping part-time in 1999\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDaughter Kristina, a Cal Poly graduate in winemaking and viticulture, came aboard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy 2005, both children were working full-time at the winery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe third generation has joined with Mike's son Alex participating in production\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4 class=\"mb-2 mt-6 text-lg first:mt-3\"\u003eWinemaking Philosophy\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDunn Vineyards maintains traditional winemaking methods and is known for:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"marker:text-textOff list-disc pl-8\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eConsistently lower alcohol levels, typically in the mid to high 13% range\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProducing age-worthy wines that maintain the classic style of Napa Valley's golden age\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRecent adoption of organic farming practices and regenerative agriculture\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA commitment to environmental preservation, demonstrated by significant land donations to the Napa Land Trust\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Dunn Vineyards","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50517723939082,"sku":"CEW092","price":1825.0,"currency_code":"DKK","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0706\/9273\/3194\/files\/dunn_cdbce254-f42c-4602-98b8-56d94dd419c3.png?v=1735507544","url":"https:\/\/carlwandel.shop\/products\/dunn-vineyards-cabernet-sauvignon-howell-mountain-2017","provider":"Carl Wandel \u0026 Søn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}