Ep. 41 Mike Dunn, Wine Maker, Dunn and Retro

Wine Podcast: The Honest Pour with John Lenart

While it doesn't have a huge marketing presence the name Dunn is sure to get the attention of Napa Valley Cabernet lovers. Randy Dunn made his first eponymous Howell Mountain cabernet sauvignon in 1979. Dunn cabernets today aren't all that different from earlier vintages. They eschew the trendy giant style that garners high scores from critics. This doesn't mean Dunn wines are thin by any means. The fruit from Howell mountain makes a wine that is tannic for sure, but once you get beyond that (or let the tannins settle with a bit of aging) the fruit is extraordinarily elegant and complex. Today, Mike Dunn makes the wine at Dunn and fosters his father's vision for this Napa icon. At the same time Mike has started his own label, Retro. This brand lets Mike explore styles beyond the house style of Dunn with his delicious petite sirah.