Rooted in Tradition, Unchanged by Time
Little has changed at Dunn Vineyards since its founding in 1979. Iconoclasm and doing things the “Dunn way” are synonymous in this pocket of Angwin on Howell Mountain. Three generations into a family business that has continued to make truly classic California Cabernets for over 45 years, the journey has not been without its challenges.
There remains an untouched feeling to this place—hidden, just down the road from shiny new wineries full of fancy equipment. Rustic and bordering on industrial, this driveway, where old-school remains today’s way of life, is where you’ll find us.
A Vineyard with Elevation and History
Lori and Randy Dunn purchased 14 acres on Howell Mountain in 1978, with five acres of Cabernet Sauvignon vines already planted at 2,000 feet of elevation, ready for the 1979 vintage. Over the years, the winery has grown and now encompasses 43 acres, entirely dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon, at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 2,100 feet.
Though primarily eastern-facing, the vineyard’s various exposures, vine ages, and elevations enhance the complexity of our single-variety wines.
Aging in the Mountain Caves
Built directly into the mountain in 1989, our caves naturally maintain 56°F and 98% humidity. The wines are aged for 32 months—significantly longer than most Cabernet in the world.
Due to the cave’s high humidity, we achieve a slow, natural evaporation of 0.5–1.0% alcohol, shaping the wine’s profile—always below 14% alcohol, creating greater diversity and flexibility at the table, as well as a distinct lightness.
Though aged in 100% new French oak, we are "allergic to vanilla," preferring lower-impact barrels that refine the intense mountain tannins, adding texture and just a touch of sweetness.
The diversity of cooperages—in certain vintages, as many as eleven barrel-makers, with up to five unique toasts per maker—adds layers of nuance. These barrels are carefully matched to vineyard blocks, all vinified separately and evaluated blind before final blending.
- The more approachable, juicy lots are selected for the Napa Valley Cabernet, which typically includes a portion of purchased fruit from the valley floor.
- The more structured, savory, mineral-driven lots are chosen for the Howell Mountain bottling.
The 2015 Vintage: A Year of Intensity and Purity
2015 continued a streak of excellent drought-defined vintages that began in 2012. A warm winter followed by intermittent wet and dry conditions resulted in very light clusters.
Shatter during pollination led to ~50% crop loss, making it one of Dunn's smallest harvests ever. Despite its minuscule yield, the 2015 vintage is vivid and pure, a distillation of an intense and challenging growing season, with dramatic aromas and a lengthy finish.
The 2015 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a testament to Dunn Vineyards' commitment to tradition, precision, and mountain winemaking at its finest.
