About the Wine

This wine is a treasure. It's been described by some of the world's most important wine critics like "An absolutely magnificent wine," "A gorgeous wine," "Beautifully done," and an "Absolute delight."

This outstanding wine was born in one of the BEST vintages EVER in Napa Valley. Wine Spectator blessed 2018 with a nearly-perfect 99 pointreview, stating that this was "An spectacular year, with wines that are rich and dark, and very terroir-driven." And Decanter praised this year saying that "The 2018 vintage in Napa Valley belongs in an echelon with the finest of the past two decades."

Since 1979, Randy and Lori Dunn have owned and operated Dunn Vineyards and continue to produce one of the most highly acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignons from Howell Mountain and the Napa Valley.

Randy Dunn got his start working for Charlie Wagner at Caymus. From the beginning, the success that catapulted that wine to become one of the most popular and recognized wine brands in the US was due to quality winemaking. Randy acquired a special piece of land on Howell Mountain and has been one of the most important leaders to identify the unique qualities of Napa Valley mountain fruit. The structure the tannins from his estate vineyard are different. They are more rigid in their youth. But, it is the purity of the fruit and the special aging potential of these wines that amazes wine aesthetes. 

Dunn makes two wines. The Howell Mountain Estate and the Napa Valley blend, which is a 50-50 combination of Howell Mountain Estate fruit and some sourced fruit from Coombsville. 

Aging: 32 months in 100% new French oak.

Tasting Notes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine offerswine offers immediate pleasure, silken lusciousness, with attractive red cherry, plum, sweet tobacco, dried flowers and cedar nuances. 

Reviews

The 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an absolutely magnificent wine, with fruit sourced from both Howell Mountain and Coombsville. It offers an expressive aromatic profile of fresh dark fruits, tobacco, spring florals and savory herb nuances that all come together and burst from the glass. On the palate it possesses a gorgeous medium to full body that is impeccably structured with polished tannins that beautifully frame its core. It goes on to display outstanding balance and striking purity, as it remains fresh and inviting through the long graceful finish. This is a wonderful wine to approach over the next few years or watch evolve over the course of the next two decades. ~95 Points, International Wine Report.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a gorgeous wine, especially for Dunn fans who want a wine to drink that won’t take forever to come around. Dark and savory, with terrific depth, the 2018 is full of character. Black cherry, lavender, chocolate, sage, mint, and cloves all open in the glass. The 2018 has just enough grip to have a good amount of classic structure, but not to the point of being forbidding. The Napa Cabernet is about 55% Howell Mountain and 45% Coombsville fruit. The 2018 is beautifully done and an absolute delight. ~94 Points, Vinous Media. 

Dunn's 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon shows terrific purity and focus in its aromas of cassis and pencil shavings and on the medium to full-bodied palate, where it's streamlined and smooth. There's intensity and concentration, but they sort of slide past almost unnoticed, lubricated by fine-grained tannins and lingering notes of cassis and graphite on the finish. ~94 Points, Wine Advocate.

Well-endowed, with waves of lightly warmed plum sauce, blackberry preserves and melted black licorice framed by a roasted apple wood note. Flashes of sassafras and sweet bay leaf add alluring range through the muscular finish. Best from 2023 through 2035. ~93 Points, Wine Spectator.

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