2003 Dunn Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
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Tasting notes
Healthy dark red. Warm, moderately expressive aromas of raspberry liqueur, currant and loam. The palate offers a rich, thick wave of slightly medicinal fruit complicated by toasty oak and a loamy nuance. Very full in the mouth and the most viscous vintage to this point in my tasting, and yet this extremely rich wine is still quite primary, due in part to its edge of acidity. Finishes horizontal and long, with huge, broad tannins. My sample tightened up with air. Incidentally, this wine has a lower pH than the 2005 bottling, according to Dunn, who added that it went through an acidic stage. (13.9% alcohol)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Rich with surprisingly soft tannin, this dense plum/ruby/purple-colored 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits lots of briary mountain fruit, blackberries, blueberries and cassis, outstanding purity, full-bodied power and nicely integrated tannin. There is no evidence of toasty oak to be found in this beauty from Randy Dunn. Drink it now or cellar it for 15+ years. It finished at 13.8% natural alcohol. Tel. (707) 965-3642
Bright ruby. Very tight and high-pitched on the nose, hinting at cassis, minerals and graphite.Then lush, sweet and impressively concentrated, with densely packed flavors of kirsch, currant and minerals and noteworthy inner-palate energy. Finer-grained than the Napa bottling, with better integration of acids and tannins. Finishes sappy and very long, with a chewy, palate-staining texture.This has delivered on the promise it showed from barrel.
Good saturated ruby. Riper aromas of black raspberry and cassis. Then lusher than the Napa Valley bottling but still quite firmly built. Sweet flavors of blackberry, black raspberry, dark chocolate and licorice are framed by lively acidity. Finishes chewy and very long. This is more like it.