Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 750ml

Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California

Notes from the Winemaker

2022 Howell Mountain sings, even at this young age, with suavity and soulfulness. The hallmarks Dunn admires vintage after vintage of their Howell Mountain bottling are on full display: toasted cumin, a slatey mineral edge, and unfurling layers of density and complexity. Grippy yet somehow ethereal, velvety tannins reverberate around a rich core of red and black fruit, taut yet lifted by violets and wild mountain herbs. Exceptionally selective blending was required for this vintage of Howell to showcase the challenging growing season without sacrificing any power or prestige. 2022 Howell is a reminder of how great sites and wines can prevail even in the most trying circumstances.

Reviews and Accolades

98 Points/James Suckling
This minerally, earthy wine is highly impressive, with aromas of black and red currants, wet stones, bay laurel, bitter chocolate, dried flowers and walnuts. The palate is seamlessly balanced, showing depth of fruit, melting tannins and a silken, rounded mouthfeel that has no hard edges. Firm, mouthwatering finish. This is drinking very well now, but can age for decades. Drink or hold.

97 Points/Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Dunn's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is the first vintage in a while that didn't get 100% new French oak—it's just 84%. Subtle, cedary oak frames bold cherry and blueberry fruit on the nose of this medium- to full-bodied wine. It's bigger-feeling than the Napa bottling, despite being lower in alcohol (13.9%). Round but structured, firm but silky, with undertones of crushed stone and pencil shavings on the lingering finish, it's a particularly strong effort.

95 Points/Vinous
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain offers a striking interplay of vintage 2022 ripeness and Howell Mountain savoriness. Dried herbs, menthol, licorice, incense and blood orange stain the palate up front before beams of tannin punctuate the harmonious, expressive finish. The 2022 is exotic and unusually lush, but also full of character. I look forward to seeing how this ages. The Howell Mountain is clearly among the finest wines of the year.
Rating: 95+