A dense, opulent wine, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain comes across as quite young. Black cherry, plum, incense, licorice, new leather and chocolate all run through this decidedly unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon. Stylistically, the 2005 is very much on the riper side of things, with a feeling of glycerin richness that is evident. Readers who enjoy wines of nuance may want to give this a few more years in the cellar. -- Antonio Galloni

This iconic wine, consistently made since it was first released in 1979 by Randy Dunn, is always aged 30 months in barrel and then an additional six months in bottle prior to being released. It is always 100% Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Randy Dunn is one of the first advocates of alcohol levels under 14%. (This one is listed at 13.8%.) Dense purple in color and still looking like a barrel sample, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain has a nice, cedary, new saddle leather-infused blackcurrant richness, outstanding purity, medium to full body, sweet tannin and a layered, lush texture. The level of concentration is impressive. I don’t think there’s a wine taster that could tell whether this is 13.8% or 15.8% alcohol, given this level of richness. This wine is certainly accessible, but probably won’t hit its prime for another 5-7 years, and like most Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignons, it will have a good 30+ years of longevity. - Robert M. Parker, Jr.