Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
(Napa Valley, California) - [IWR 98] [JD 98] [VM 98] [JS 97] [WA 96+] [WS 96, #6 Top 100 of '23] [DM 96]

Click here to see all Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines we have in stock—while still available!

About the Winery:
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.

About the Wine:
Led by Bill Smith, Randy and a few other winemakers and grape growers proposed and defined the distinctive Howell Mountain AVA. The AVA's boundary starts at an elevation of 1400 feet, so even when it is cool and foggy on the valley floor, it is sunny and breezy up on the mountain. Our wine epitomizes the Howell Mountain Cabernet: deep concentration, bold, massive, ultra rich and elegant.

Ratings & Reviews

98 Points - International Wine Review: 
The 2019 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from Dunn is 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 refinment, 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." (Jun 2023)

98 Points - 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." (Dec 2023)

98 Points - Vinous Media:
"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!" - Antonio Galloni (Feb 2023)

97 Points - James Suckling:
"Bold and generous aromas of blackcurrants, pomegranates, cumin and graphite. The palate is full-bodied with silky smooth tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of blueberry compote, cedar, mocha, olive tapenade and ferric earth. Savory and soft with a serious undertone. Drink or hold." (Dec 2024)

96+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"Despite weighing in at under 14% alcohol (13.84% to be precise), the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain comes across as full-bodied and expansive on the palate, redolent of pine needles, blueberries and cherries. Possessing terrific texture and framed by plenty of softly dusty tannins, it finishes long and concentrated, promising at least two decades of positive evolution." - Joe Czerwinski (Oct 2024)

96 Points & #6 Top 100 Wines of 2023 - Wine Spectator:
"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. Best from 2025 through 2040." - JM (Nov 2023)

96 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"This is a very pure, fruit-driven wine with a savoury, salty, mineral-rich character. The red berry fruit is almost reticent yet remarkably pure, complemented by elegant cedar spice and tobacco nuances. The subtle ripe tannins contribute to a medium-bodied wine with impressive density and fruit intensity. These are medium-bodied, fashionable, and elegantly crafted wines, almost Barolo-like in style. Pleasure-packed and energetic. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks with 3-4 daily pump-overs, with partial fermentation in the barrel, and aged for 32 months in 100% new French oak." - Jonathan Cristaldi (Aug 2024)