1983 dunn napa

Richard_Albert · September 5, 2019, 4:05pm

The under the radar stellar vineyard source is in Coombsville, the Caldwell Vineyard.
I believe that vineyard became the first all French clone vineyard in Napa and it was also the regional nursery for ENTAV clones coming from a well known repository in Bordeaux.

Richard_Albert · September 5, 2019, 4:08pm

I believe the vineyard name showed on the Pahlmeyer label for a few vintages and other than that there was little recognition.

JohnP · September 5, 2019, 4:12pm

Those older Dunns are indestructible! I’ve sourced a few from the 80s and all have been fantastic. 88’ was the WOTN upset a couple years ago in a tasting against several big Napa names. Been saving a 85’ mag for a special occasion. The bottle is so pretty looking with the painted etched glass.

If the '85 mag is a Howell Mtn, I suggest you have a back up when you open it. Looking at notes here and on CT, there have obviously been some great bottles enjoyed over the years, but there are a few notes that aren’t so glowing. Here’s a comment I posted here about 18 months ago … “I’ve found a disappointing amount of bottle variation in the '85 Dunn Howell Mountain. I bought a case of 750s, 2 mags and a 5L directly from Dunn on release, and I’ve probably poured more than half down the sink. The bottles didn’t taste clean, with dominating flavors of pine resin and turpentine.”

Thanks for sharing this sucky news. After AG’s review on a vertical Dunn HM several months ago, I was super excited. He must have had a great bottle or really likes pine resin

Richard_Albert · September 5, 2019, 4:23pm

Agreed, I have saved 1984 and 1986 and 1987 Howell Mountain Cabs from that era. A 1986 is on deck as an anniversary wine.
I drank a 1985 Napa a couple of years ago and it was excellent, a shame about the 1985 Howell.

Scott_Jameson · September 5, 2019, 4:56pm

Those older Dunns are indestructible! I’ve sourced a few from the 80s and all have been fantastic. 88’ was the WOTN upset a couple years ago in a tasting against several big Napa names. Been saving a 85’ mag for a special occasion. The bottle is so pretty looking with the painted etched glass.

If the '85 mag is a Howell Mtn, I suggest you have a back up when you open it. Looking at notes here and on CT, there have obviously been some great bottles enjoyed over the years, but there are a few notes that aren’t so glowing. Here’s a comment I posted here about 18 months ago … “I’ve found a disappointing amount of bottle variation in the '85 Dunn Howell Mountain. I bought a case of 750s, 2 mags and a 5L directly from Dunn on release, and I’ve probably poured more than half down the sink. The bottles didn’t taste clean, with dominating flavors of pine resin and turpentine.”

Thanks for sharing this sucky news. After AG’s review on a vertical Dunn HM several months ago, I was super excited. He must have had a great bottle or really likes pine resin

John, now that I think about it, I recall the etched & painted mags are the Napa bottling and not the Howell Mtn. They are from the Artist Series released in a few years in the mid-80s. I think there were 3 different '85 bottles, each numbered out of 200. Here’s an example of the '84 Artist Series https://lelandlittle.com/l/dunn-vineyards-magnums-vintage-1984/auction/701/lot/3416/ Is your bottle similar ?

JohnP · September 5, 2019, 6:03pm

If the '85 mag is a Howell Mtn, I suggest you have a back up when you open it. Looking at notes here and on CT, there have obviously been some great bottles enjoyed over the years, but there are a few notes that aren’t so glowing. Here’s a comment I posted here about 18 months ago … “I’ve found a disappointing amount of bottle variation in the '85 Dunn Howell Mountain. I bought a case of 750s, 2 mags and a 5L directly from Dunn on release, and I’ve probably poured more than half down the sink. The bottles didn’t taste clean, with dominating flavors of pine resin and turpentine.”

Thanks for sharing this sucky news. After AG’s review on a vertical Dunn HM several months ago, I was super excited. He must have had a great bottle or really likes pine resin

John, now that I think about it, I recall the etched & painted mags are the Napa bottling and not the Howell Mtn. They are from the Artist Series released in a few years in the mid-80s. I think there were 3 different '85 bottles, each numbered out of 200. Here’s an example of the '84 Artist Series https://lelandlittle.com/l/dunn-vineyards-magnums-vintage-1984/auction/701/lot/3416/ Is your bottle similar ?

Yep, that’s the bottle. I thought it was HM. Anyone try one of these, thoughts?

ybarselah · September 6, 2019, 2:21pm

i got some '84 napa as part of that parcel so will try soon.