1997 Dunn - Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon - USA - California - Napa - Howell Mountain - Red

Bright deep ruby. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, dark chocolate, licorice and earth. Dense, juicy flavors of dark berries dominated by rather penetrating acids. Tougher and even more backward than the Napa Valley bottling, but longer and sweeter on the back end. Finishes with powerful toothcoating tannins. Both this and the Napa bottling show much stronger acidity than they did from barrel last winter, a few months prior to the bottling.

This one's ruggedly tannic and hard-edged, with lots of cedary oak in the forefront, so patience is required--let the earthy anise and mineral-scented currant flavors meld and the tannins to soften. 3,454 cases made.

The enormous 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a super-powerful, fabulously-concentrated, 50-year wine. Aromas and flavors of blackberry/cassis jam, minerals, and subtle oak are found in this extravagantly rich, gargantuan Cabernet Sauvignon that should age effortlessly for half a century.