Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2018 vintage. From magnum. Last tasted 3.19.26 (9.4), 12.5.25 (9.4), 1.31.25 (9.4) and 10.26.23 (9.5). Decanted and tasted after one hour. Yeahhh. 7.1.26. — 4 months ago

Rick Phillips

9.8

Decanted for 4 hours and was floral with hints of spice. Smoothed out over the evening to lush flavors of plum, cherry, blackberry and blueberries. Finished with lite taste of tobacco and old leather. — 5 months ago

with Letha

Pooneet K

9.4

Opened 5 hours ahead and decanted for 2. Absolutely delicious. Still quite youthful but singing nicely so no need to wait in my opinion. Perfect hot dog wine 😉 — 6 months ago

Rod

9.0

For my taste, the 97 has peaked. It did open up after a while with mild spices, yet remained very earthy. — 9 months ago

Doug Powers

9.9

Redfruit aromas and flavors, this is still hopelessly young, though the tannins have softened a bit and it seems to be inching towards maturity, impeccable balance and great depth of flavors, super long, lingering finish, just an absolutely fantastic, old school California mountain Cabernet. I have always believed this to be the best Dunn Howell Mountain ever made (I’ve tasted 1981-1992, with a distinct style change towards riper and higher ABV starting around 1992, after which I stopped buying the wine). $15 full retail when I bought it in late 1984. — 3 years ago

with Jim

Jay Root

9.1

Quite nice after breathing for a bit. Quality Smokey California cab — 8 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.1

Is there a better wine for roast chicken than Loire cabernet franc? Rhetorical question, of course. 2011 so tight, even after two hour decant. It slowly unveils its charms, like Jo Fiennes unwinds Gwen Paltrow in the otherwise forgettable "Shakespeare in Love". Unlike that film, this has staying power. Stash away a case, it will develop beautifully over the next three decades. — 9 years ago

with Alsu

David Langstaff

9.4

This wine needed about 3 hours to release. Initially tight with uncomfortable medicinal nose which then totally dissipated. Drinking now next day and you get the age of fully integrated but not fading tannins. Nose has a delightful dark fruit and smokiness. Great fit of nose and taste, meaning - when tastes after smelling the experience is consistent and not jolting. I think the color purple in a subdued way. Very nice. Memo to self: decant and watch for sediment, and enjoy three hours later. — 10 years ago

with Cynthia and Chris

Martin Frowde

9.2

Drinking the 1991 in 2016 after over 2 hours of decanting. Wonderful light sherry type nose with a hint of pepper and quite brick red colour around the edges. Such a soft texture on the tongue though still a little astringency on the finish. Very good. — 11 years ago

with Georgina

Rob Moose

9.2

2009. Shy! Cream to drink, iodine to smell. Became more expressive after about an hour in the decanter. Very pretty, without angles but not quite round either. Curious. Cull&Pistol in Chelsea Mkt — 12 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1999 vintage. Nice fill. Used a Durand. Solid cork with approx 50% saturation. Decanted and tasted after two hours. That decided Lynch-Bages medium heavy bod. Has dropped some, not all, of the overt primary fruit load. Pleasant spices and feminine characteristics easily noted and cataloged. Pretty harmonious now tho with a little chunkiness/tannic blessing as more of a fleeting kiss vs a big hug. Could easily go another decade in this ensemble. 6.14.26. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

From magnum. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2012 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with punchy notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, orange rind, red flowers, and a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is almost chewy. The 2012 is still an awesome value; really tasty stuff. Drink now through 2042. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2023 pours a deep ruby/garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity and moderate staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is developing with heady notes of tart cherry, mixed brambles, spearmint, red and purple flowers, old school permanent marker, licorice, tomato, green herbs, clove and stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the body is, ooof…very nice. Another delicious vintage of Cuvée Réservée. Drink now through 2043. — 6 months ago

Jon Ebsworth

9.6

I had been worried how these CdP would show after previous bottles from the case showed poorly. These were superb. Dark fruit, silky tannin, long finish. Perfect with roast lamb and pommes à la Montagne! I fine way to finch the case bought en primeur when I was first getting into wine 👌🏼 — 9 months ago

John Malcolm

9.5

Blueberries, herbs, and cedar. Complex, elegant, and intense. Such a lovely wine. Decanted for about four hours and served with lamb — a magnificent combination. — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

From a great old looking bottle with a mid shoulder fill. Cork is fully saturated and the crud under the capsule had formed a strong seal. Slow-ox’d for a few hours, then decanted for an hour or two before taken to L’Escargot in Carmel. Amber tawny rims with a reddish tawny core. Crazy nose right from the start. Notes of sweet black cherries, tobacco leaf, plums, black pepper, ash and crusty wood, pencil shavings, some just unwrapped cigar and some menthol. Silky in the mouth with firm structure and soft but present acidity. Long and memorable finish. Outstanding performance over several hours. — 6 years ago

Velma Cooper

9.4

Velma had this 9 years ago

Matt Duncan

9.5

Very impressive. Wild mint aroma finds seamless balance in mid palate after pure Cabernet attack. Tannins rise subtly on palate and betray their youth only briefly at the resolution. — 11 years ago

Anthony Trumbo

9.1

Finishing off our second bottle of this meaty rosé with some sausage bolognese. — 11 years ago

Nic Z

9.3

Star of the night. Needed more time to wake but full body super thick and sticky after taste — 13 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Been a bit since my last but still do not think much of the style of their Cabernet. Especially, given its price point.

2022 Napa Cabernet’s more than less boil down to when did you harvest, before or after the 10 days of intense heat during the harvest window.

2026 Taste of Oakvile — 5 months ago

Jan A

9.7

At first I scored this 99 points, flirting with perfection just like the 1999 Dunn Howell Mountain we had in our glass moments before. However after 15-20 minutes in the glass it began to fade and aged characteristics like tea leaves and Maggi began to emerge and the color went much more brown. Still a very good wine. — 6 months ago

Diane Heyboer

9.2

Had the 2018 on Easter Sunday, 2026. Let it decant for close to two hours. Full body, silky smooth tannins with hints of cocoa, blackberry, raspberry and a hint of vanilla. Had a touch of leather near the end. Was really tasty. Was a gift from our kids and absolutely fantastic with dinner this evening. — 7 months ago

with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2001 vintage. Sweet fill. Cork perfect (used a Durand) but more than a bit underwaxed so it was a positively Italian experience during the opening process. I trust those in the know completely understand what the hell imma talking about. Workout! Cork out in one piece and expected amount of sed. Medium body with overtures towards more. Blueberry, tobacco, plum and gravelly, wet earth impressions leading the charge throughout. Grippy tannins providing visible and raised guardrails during. A little editorial...the 2001's were generally emasculated/minimized after the supposed "vintage of the (which one?) century" in 2000. The 2000's have largely failed to deliver the anticipated goods whereas the "meh" 2001's (at vastly reduced prices from the 2000's) are rocking don't bother knocking now. Completely like the guy or girl that was always cute but totally caught fire after high school. A late(r) bloomer and completely underrated. This wine has an easy 20-spot of top-notch drinking ahead. 1.24.26. — 9 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

From a great looking bottle with a fill almost into the neck. Double decanted and left in the bottle for 5 hours before attacking it. Amber color. Good weight and haunting nose. Notes of old cedar, mocha, plums, cola, dark fruit, molasses and some sweet red cherry. Early on it’s all about the amazing nose. But with time the wine gains weight and you have a gorgeous old St Estephe in front of you. Still giving its all, and although the fruit is somewhat faded, this has complexity and structure that still drives the experience. And that nose is simply stunning. Great showing. — 5 years ago

Marc vanholst

9.0

After 40 years still standing upright. — 9 years ago

Sarah Oettel

9.5

Still maintaining nice bubbles after all these years. Brioche. The color CANNOT be beat. Bold, elegant--everything you would hope for from an old(er) Dom! — 9 years ago

Kyo Jin

9.3

Great cedar and cassis nose with a matching palate. Persistent without being boring. Earthiness coming out after an hour to balance chocolate covered berries. — 11 years ago

Sharyn Grant

9.0

Big quality fruit bomb - 2006 - drinking softly now, open 2 hours. Would like to see if the fruit resolves over the next few years. — 11 years ago

M P

9.0

Bold and big. After 1985, together with 1997 and 2004 one of the greatest vintage ever.
Definitely ready to go. Magnum as its best. — 12 years ago