Leaving that windstorm of a Wind Gap Marathon madness in the rear-view mirror, we rollout yet another similarly insane deal that requires your full attention and ZERO hesitation. A Dunn-made library Napa Petite with 40% savings! Collectors and connoisseurs who cherish the Dunn family’s peerless winemaking from high atop Howell Mountain rejoice! This is totally cult red material at a fraction of its intrinsic value. While irresistible today, it’s built for the long haul as one of the TOP 10 rated Petite Sirahs of the near perfect 2013 vintage by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Very little made, even less allocated, so once gone, there is no looking back.

Make sure you have a stain remover handy as this is an opaque, inky deep ruby. Ripe black fruits meld within exotic earthy accents reminiscent of a spice bazaar. Conversely dry on the palate given all the sweet, bold fruits on the nose, followed by immense tannins, brooding blackberry essence, and tobacco. A potpourri of herbs and spices extend the warm, plush, seamless notion of fruit. This beast is versatile enough to complement charcuterie, aged cheeses or rich, gamey stews.

In RETROspect, a secret lurks buried deep within the pages of history and the cellars at Dunn that Mike’s iconoclastic dad Randy cherished and made some old vine Petites from their Howell estate only from 1992 through 1995 and only a barrel or three for each of those vintages. When a tiny stash of these were unearthed about a decade ago, the way they aged effortlessly just like their great Cabernets inspired Mike to resurrect the legacy under Retro Cellars. A father to son continuity here is obvious. What Galloni once proclaimed as “one of the pinnacles of excellence within the school of structured wines built for aging” for Randy Dunn’s style is evidently continued with Mike’s Retro Cellars. If you have yet to discover these tremendous wines, now is your chance to steal some and get the opportunity to brag about why and how they make many a Napa Cab look small.

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

94 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate - “Mike Dunn works alongside his father Randy at the family’s Dunn Vineyards and also makes these Petite Sirahs at Retro, the label he runs with his wife, Kara. The flagship Howell Mountain Petite Sirah is made from Randy Dunn’s Park Muscatine vineyard. The Retro wines are big, full-throttled and fiercely tannic, but develop beautifully with time in the bottle. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Petite Sirah has a fantastically opulent nose of star anise, cassia and cardamom with a core of blackberry preserves, plum pudding and cracked black pepper. Full-bodied, concentrated, rich and densely packed with black fruit preserves and exotic spices, it has a firm yet approachable frame and long, chewy finish. Drink 2018-2032.”

92 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous - “These are delicious wines from Mike and Kara Dunn’s Retro label. Mike Dunn is best known for the Cabernets he makes alongside his father, Randy, at their family’s estate, but his Retro Petite Sirahs are also well worth taking a look at. Retro’s 2013 Petite Sirah (Napa Valley) is dark, powerful and intense. Thirty-two months in barrel have softened some of the contours and given the wine quite a bit of immediacy. Sweet tobacco, licorice, leather, smoke, lavender and violet meld into the expressive, unctuous finish. This is an especially friendly Petite that can be enjoyed upon release. Drink 2018-2023.”