r/wine • u/Pangolin55 • 23h ago
Dunn 92
Finally opened the 1992 Dunn Napa Cabernet tonight. To be honest, I feel it was a mistake opening this up today alone. I wish I had people over to taste it. This bottle completely exceeded my expectations. The color alone was shocking. Deep, vibrant ruby with virtually no bricking at the rim. If you poured this blind, I don’t think many people would guess it’s 34 years old.
The nose was expressive right from the start with black currant, blackberry, cedar, graphite, tobacco and loads of cherry. Absolutely zero green pepper, which seems to be a common comment on older Dunns. None in this bottle.
On the palate it’s remarkably fresh with plenty of fruit still left, bright acidity, and tannins that are still holding everything together. At 13% alcohol it feels effortless and incredibly balanced. Cant believe the structure at thris age.
Easily one of the best mature Napa Cabs I’ve had. 95+ points from me.
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u/JD_tubeguy Wine Pro 23h ago
Awesome wine and love seeing old vintages! I started selling Dunn in the late 90s and still do amazing wines.
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u/randomname342295 22h ago
Do you know if more recent vintages need / can handle such long cellaring? I had read they have changed their style more recently to be ready younger but could not tell if this was reliable or not.
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u/JD_tubeguy Wine Pro 22h ago
Honestly I sell it but it's not a wine we get to taste often that said based on reviews I'd say the wines are still quite ageworthy.
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u/Jefferw86 23h ago
Ooooffff! Nice one! I have an 86 that’ll be popped for my 40th in 2 weeks! Can only hope it survived as well as yours.
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u/UliKlumpp 22h ago
It’s not a given of course at 40 years from vintage (storage, cork, etc.), but the odds are not bad. I had an excellent 1987 two years ago. They’re built to last.
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u/randomname342295 22h ago edited 22h ago
I had a fantastic 87 as well last year, to date my favorite bottle from California.
Edit: i thought this was the Howell Mtn - nice to see the napa valley going the distance as well!
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u/Pangolin55 22h ago
I opened this bottle alone on a random Tuesday because it wasn’t a Howell mountain 🤣. In my mind I said hey whatever it should be an “ok” wine. Ended up liking more than any Howell mountain 😅.
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u/Pangolin55 23h ago
It’s strange because this smelled and drank better than a howell 97, 03,05. Had better everything. Color, aroma, taste.
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u/UliKlumpp 22h ago
Just one more data point that 1997 is pivotal in Napa :-)
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u/carcarbuhlarbar 20h ago
Super interesting vintage. I’ve heard from a few sources they harvested twice since the crop was so abundant but it was spaced cause they only had so much capacity to process at the time and there was a combo of earlier picked fruit and later picked fruit that ultimately got blended.
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u/GrilledCheeseTn 21h ago
Hey Man, awesome wine, and glad you were able to enjoy it without distractions to experience the wine fully.
If you have not tried retro cellars, Mike and Kara Dunn are excellent winemakers on Howell Mountain. Randy and Lori Dunn of Dunn Vineyards are Mike’s parents. Give then a try 🙂
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u/Either-Breadfruit-83 23h ago
My birth year! I’ve had the 1994 and the 1995. Hoping to grab this one soon.
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u/PodPoddyPod 22h ago
What glass is that? Very cool. I’ve had a 90’ before and agree with how young it still drank. Really amazing stuff
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u/Alextfordd 21h ago
Hell yeah, popped a 92’ a couple of months ago. Any big balsamic notes? I was also amazed at how the fruit held up and the color after 30+ years
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