WTN: Dunn Cabernet Sauvignon 1990

Napa Valley.

My step son was home for Easter and, during a previous phone call, had jokingly accused me of never opening "the good stuff" while he was home. I pulled a bottle of this to shut him up.

Decanted about one hour before a supper of BBQed striploin steaks.

Amazingly dark and dense purple at 19 years of age.

A great nose: woody, black olives, earth, leather.

Medium weight, black cherry, black currants, black olives, tarry, very rich and complex, chocolate.

A finish that goes on for minutes: chocolate, earth, cherry and currants.

A yummy and impressive bottle.

Nice.
I had the '91 last year, and it was still tannic and needed time. Dunn is maybe the most backward CA producer I know , even the Napa.

Togni?

I have Dunns all the way back to 82. The wines from the 80's are just beginning to come around (86 and earlier) Howell Mt take on the average 2 or 3 years more than Napa. Nice wines to drink when ready.

Togni?

I've liked Togni, but don't have a lot of experience. I thought a '93 a couple years ago was quite good, but no clear memories.
Willing to be educated if you have some.
Lou, you are a patient man!

Napa Valley.

My step son was home for Easter and, during a previous phone call, had jokingly accused me of never opening "the good stuff" while he was home. I pulled a bottle of this to shut him up.

Decanted about one hour before a supper of BBQed striploin steaks.

Amazingly dark and dense purple at 19 years of age.
A great nose: woody, black olives, earth, leather. Medium weight, black cherry, black currants, black olives, tarry, very rich and complex, chocolate.

A finish that goes on for minutes: chocolate, earth, cherry and currants.
A yummy and impressive bottle.

A lovely wine, I agree. Here are my notes on it from two years ago:

1990 Dunn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Since we recalled that Christophe had spent his 7 years in the US frantically collecting CalCabs, we decided to open up this bottle from
the cellar. Christophe initially asked "Has this got Merlot in it?" Once the raucous laughter had subsided, he decided that it actually
resembled a St. Julien, a subject he knows more about than I do, having drunk many '37s and '45s in his youth. What I do note is that the tannins are fully resolved, that it's still quite primary with good cassis fruit and only a slight mineral element to complicate things. My last mouthful is the best, at which point the wine had picked up some leather, earth and tobacco notes. Even I began to see some Medoc-like character to the wine.

Mark Lipton

Dale-

I have two bottles of Togni in the cellar, 95 and 96. I'd be thrilled to share, but not for about 5 more years.