No. 6 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2023

98pts Jeb Dunnuck

I would put the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain up against both the 2013 and 2016 as a potential reference point vintage for this cuv e. Checking in at 13.9% alcohol and revealing a deep purple hue as well as incredible aromatics of pure cr me de cassis, scorched earth, graphite, bouquet garni, and hints of plum, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness carrying ultra-fine tannins, a flawless sense of balance and purity, and incredible length. It has plenty of classic Howell Mountain structure, but it's far from the beast of a wine these were 10 to 15 years ago, and it clearly offers ample pleasure today. Nevertheless, it's going to benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and, I suspect, evolve nicely over the following 20-30 years. Tasted twice with consistent results, hats off to Mike Dunn for this brilliant wine.

98pts Vinous

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is outrageously beautiful. A wine of extraordinary purity, the 2019 dazzles right out of the gate. The tannins are nearly silky for a young Howell Mountain Cabernet. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, rose petal and pomegranate all build in this sumptuous, explosive Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2019 is one of the most elegant Cabernets I have tasted here, and that is saying something What a wine!

98pts Int'l Wine Review

The 2019 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from Dunn in nothing short of stunning in this vintage. This immediately begins to impress as it opens to gorgeous perfumed aromatics of ripe dark currants and black cherries, which are woven together with fresh violets, graphite shavings, exotic spices, herbs and earthy minerals that all come together and burst from the glass. On the palate this is full-bodied and remarkably polished, with absolutely incredible overall balance and structure. This displays wonderful precision and a sense of refinement, as it continues to captivate all the way through the long, lavish finish. Dunn's wines are always one of the finest examples of Cabernet from Napa, and there is certainly no exception with this utterly brilliant wine. The 2019 Howell Mountain is already outstanding and there is no doubt it should have an incredibly bright future ahead for many years to come.

96pts Wine Spectator

***No. 6 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2023*** Lushly fruited, this sends waves of crushed plum, boysenberry compote and blackberry paste out from the core, with a strong undercurrent of cast iron and smoldering tobacco to boot. Grippy and dense, but with a sense of polish and a note of purity in the guise of a pretty violet echo. *Highly Recommended*

Winery Notes

Dunn Vineyards is a celebrated family-owned and operated estate in Howell Mountain, a subregion of the Napa Valley AVA. In 1979, Randy Dunn and his wife Lori moved with their son Mike into a home on the outskirts of the quiet town of Angwin. While the valley floor inspired farmers to plant vineyards and make wine, Howell Mountain captured Randy’s heart.

From these mountain vineyards, the Dunn family made its mark on the wine industry, and the land in turn made its mark on the family. They now own over 200 acres of land, 35 acres of which are planted to vines - 29 acres to Cabernet Sauvignon, and a small parcel for Mike Dunn’s Petite Sirah, released under the Retro Cellars label. Another 63 forested acres are entrusted to the Napa Valley Land Trust. The Dunn’s continue to produce two of the best regional examples of Cabernet Sauvignon, one from Howell Mountain and one from Napa Valley.