Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 1983 5000ml

Randy Dunn, who made wine at Caymus before founding his own estate atop Howell Mountain in the late 1970s, built Dunn Vineyards into one of Napa Valley's most uncompromising producers of long-lived mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. The 1983 comes from the winery's earliest years, and this bottle is a rare 5-liter large format. Vinous found it one of the softest and most inviting of the early Dunn wines, with pure texture and layers of fruit accented by leather, menthol and smoke, and judged it among the vintages closest to full maturity. A bottle this large ages slowly, so expect a fresher, more youthful profile than standard bottles show. Decant gently and enjoy over the next several years.