{"product_id":"2019-dunn-howell-mountain-cabernet-sauvignon","title":"2019 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 2019 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a benchmark Napa Valley classic from one of the region’s most revered, age-worthy producers. Sourced from rugged, high-elevation vineyards on Howell Mountain, this is a Cabernet built on structure, purity and longevity rather than sheer opulence. For collectors and serious Cabernet lovers, it’s a reference-point wine that showcases the cooler, more restrained side of Napa.\n\nWhat sets this wine apart is its combination of power and restraint: intensely concentrated mountain fruit wrapped in firm tannins and vibrant acidity, crafted in a resolutely traditional style. Dunn has been a standard-bearer for Howell Mountain Cabernet since the late 1970s, long before the AVA became a star, and the estate’s wines are widely regarded as some of Napa’s most age-worthy reds.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, the 2019 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is deep, opaque ruby with a dark garnet rim, so saturated it hints at the concentration to come. Swirling reveals stained tears and a youthful, almost inky core that speaks to its mountain origins and long life ahead.\n\nThe nose opens with densely packed aromas of blackcurrant, ripe blackberry and black cherry, layered with graphite, crushed rock, cigar box and cedar. With air, more detail emerges: violets, dried sage, pencil shavings, cocoa nib and a subtle ferrous, mineral edge that is very Howell Mountain in character.\n\nOn the palate, this is full-bodied yet precise, with a focused line of acidity cutting through the dark, pure Cabernet fruit. Flavors of cassis, black plum and black cherry are woven with tobacco leaf, espresso, baking spices and a cool, stony core. The tannins are abundant, fine-grained and firm, giving the wine impressive structure without feeling harsh, and the finish is long, savory and mineral-driven.\n\nThis 2019 is built for the cellar. While you can experience its pedigree now with proper air, it will really hit its stride after several years of bottle age. Expect a prime drinking window from roughly 2028 onward, with the potential to evolve gracefully for 25+ years under good cellaring conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDunn’s Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from estate vineyards perched high above the Napa Valley floor, where rocky, volcanic soils, steep slopes and cooler temperatures define the terroir. These demanding conditions naturally limit yields, concentrating flavor and preserving acidity in the Cabernet Sauvignon berries. Harvest is typically carried out by hand, often later than on the valley floor due to the mountain site’s cooler, longer growing season, allowing for full phenolic ripeness without excessive sugar levels. In the cellar, Dunn follows a traditional, minimalist approach: careful sorting, fermentation in stainless steel or neutral tanks, and extended aging in mostly used French oak to avoid overwhelming the wine’s natural character. The aim is structure, purity and authenticity of place rather than overt oak or softness, a philosophy that has remained remarkably consistent over decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis structured mountain Cabernet is at its best alongside richly flavored, protein-driven dishes that can meet its intensity and tannin. Think dry-aged ribeye, grilled lamb chops with rosemary, braised short ribs, venison, or a classic beef Wellington. Earthy accompaniments—wild mushrooms, roasted root vegetables, truffle-inflected dishes and aged hard cheeses like Comté, Pecorino or mature Cheddar—also complement its savory nuances. Serve at 16–18°C (60–65°F) for optimal balance. In its youth, decant for 2–3 hours to allow the tannins to relax and the aromatics to unfold; as the wine gains bottle age, a shorter 45–60 minute decant is usually sufficient, mainly to lift any sediment and let the bouquet fully blossom.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDunn Vineyards was founded in 1979 by Randy Dunn, who quickly became one of Napa Valley’s most respected Cabernet specialists and a pioneer of Howell Mountain. At a time when much of Napa’s focus was on the valley floor, Dunn championed the potential of high-elevation, mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, helping shape Howell Mountain’s identity and contributing to its recognition as an AVA in 1983. The estate has remained firmly family-run, with a steadfast commitment to low yields, traditional winemaking and long-lived, age-worthy wines that favor structure and authenticity over flashiness. Dunn’s Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignons are now regarded as some of Napa’s great classics, regularly cited by collectors, sommeliers and critics as benchmarks for the region and for mountain Cabernet worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dunn","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54251903648081,"sku":"GCW-MMUI-1911083","price":185.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/2019_Dunn_Howell_Mountain_Cabernet_Sauvignon_1.png?v=1783442213","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/2019-dunn-howell-mountain-cabernet-sauvignon","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}