1992 Dunn Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
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Tasting notes
Bright, deep red with ruby tones! Knockout nose combines black raspberry, dark plum, tobacco, leather, minerals, mocha, leather and earth, all lifted a floral quality. Plush, dense and wonderfully alive, conveying noteworthy fruit sweetness; reminded me of a superb mature Saint-Julien wine, which is to say that it still boasts terrific grip. This exciting, impeccably balanced wine possesses a remarkable structure for continued evolution in bottle. The palate-staining berry, leather and mineral flavors blow by the serious but harmonious tannins. An incredible showing for this vintage: perfect today but built for a long life in bottle. (13% alcohol)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is simply stunning. Wow. The fruit is so vibrant, alive and expressive. A wine of extraordinary harmony, the 1992 flows across the palate with voluptuous fruit. Silky tannins give the 1992 a measure of textural finesse that is compelling. Rose petals, sweet red berries and flowers build to a deep, resonant finish that is striking for its purity and beauty. I have also had the 1992 Napa Valley Cabernet recently, confirming this is a great Dunn vintage all around. Readers holding the 1992 are in for a real treat.
What makes the 1992 California Cabernet Sauvignon vintage so incredible is that one of its hallmarks is the voluptuous, opulent, and succulent nature of the fruit. In Dunn's offerings, that translates into wines that are massive and rich, but with sweeter, more expansive, chewy mid-palates. Both of these Cabernets are 20-30 year wines, but I suspect the softer Napa cuvee will be drinkable in 5-7 years. Tel. (707) 965-3642
Tasted next to the 1994, the 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain presents a slightly more linear build. I imagine some of that is the 1992 just losing some of the voluptuous fruit it showed in its youth. Strong savory and earthy Howell Mountain inflections add layers of nuance throughout. The 1992 is another wine that is in fine shape today.