Winemaker Notes
The 2022 Napa Valley is sourced entirely from Dunn's Howell Mountain vineyards, a rarity in more recent vintages, highlighting blocks that convey the valley floor's plushness in a warmer season. Brambly raspberry, blackberry, and black currant are snapped into focus on the palate by lacy tannins and lively acidity. The tension of the 2022 Napa is underlined by graphite, black licorice, and forest floor—a perfectly struck chord of just-ripe fruit and earthy elegance. This is an encapsulation of Napa Valley Cabernet, the Dunn way.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
For a warm vintage this shows impressive freshness, with underlying depth and aromas of dark fruit, spices, potpourri, graphite and bay laurel. The palate is plush and rounded with a silken mouthfeel and fine tannins, leading to a fruit-driven, savory finish. There is plenty of early drinking appeal, despite its mountainous nature. This is the first time since 2011 that the wine is 100% Howell Mountain AVA. Delicious. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Like a couple of other famous vintages (2010, for one), Dunn's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon "Napa" is composed entirely of Howell Mountain fruit. Scents of cedar and cherries are graced by hints of cassis and dusty earth, while the palate is medium- to full-bodied, silky and reasonably supple for a Dunn wine. Long and elegant on the finish, with fine-grained tannins, it's a top-notch example of mountain Cabernet made with modern sensibilities regarding drinkability. Coincidentally (?), it's the first Napa bottling officially over 14% alcohol (14.4%).
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.