2014 Feather Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley vintner, Randy Dunn, brings his artistry and expertise to Washington State to produce small quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley's finest vineyards. His reputation for producing world-class Cabernet spans more than four decades. After making wines at Caymus from 1975-1985, Randy established Dunn Vineyards on Howell Mountain where he continues to craft distinctive wines of high acclaim.
The 2014 vintage enjoyed a picture-perfect growing season that produced rich, flavorful wines. Spring arrived early, warm and dry, setting the stage for another hot summer. Temperatures were consistently warm, hastening an early start to harvest, but the Columbia Valley's balmy fall days and cool autumn nights allowed the grapes to reach full physiological maturity while preserving the fruits' natural acidity and yielding high quality grapes across the board.
Hand-harvested grapes were sorted, lightly crushed and fermented in small stainless steel tanks. Once fermentation was underway, the cap was pumped over aggressively 2-3 times per day to extract color and structure. As fermentation neared completion, pump-overs were handled more gently to continue to extract delicate tannins and texture without imparting harsh tannins. The finished wine was aged 22 months in 90% new Vicard French oak barrels.
A sophisticated wine with an impressive balance of intensity and elegance that offers generous aromas of dried rosemary, black cherries and French oak nuances. Soft and rich on the palate, yet firmly structured, the wine's dark fruit flavors glide smoothly over refined tannins that provide a long and pleasurable finish.
93+ POINTS - WINE ADVOCATE
| Download Wine Notes |
| Vintage | 2014 |
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Appellation | Columbia Valley |
| Acid | 0.56 grams / 100ml |
| PH | 3.98 |
| Alcohol | 14.70% |
| Wine Style | Red Wine |
| Volume | 750 ml |
2014 FEATHER - 93+ POINTS
"The 2014 Feather is going to reward those with patience. Clean and pure, with a straight, focused style, it has classic crème de cassis, crushed violets and graphite aromatics, medium to full-bodied richness and fine polished tannin. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will shine over the following decade or more."
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2014 FEATHER - 93 POINTS
"Inviting, fully ripe aromas of red and black currant, menthol, licorice and minerals. A juicy shapely wine with dark berry and graphite flavors complicated by a captivating herbal quality. I love the combination of sweetness and floral lift. Finishes with firm but suave tannins, a strong mineral impression lifting the wine's intense fruit. In a rather Napa Valley style."
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2014 FEATHER - 93+ POINTS
"The 2014 Feather is going to reward those with patience. Clean and pure, with a straight, focused style, it has classic crème de cassis, crushed violets and graphite aromatics, medium to full-bodied richness and fine polished tannin. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will shine over the following decade or more."
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2014 FEATHER - 91 POINTS
"Aromas of cocoa, bittersweet chocolate, blackberry and french-oak spice rise up from the glass. The palate brings rich, velvety dark fruit flavors backed by fine-grained tannins. It needs some time to fully settle in. Best after 2021."
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The 2014 Feather is a showcase for three of Washington's top Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards. One-third of the grapes were grown at The Benches Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, with the resulting wine offering silky, refined tannins and an appealing earthiness. Dionysus Vineyard brings intense, dark fruit flavors, and Walla Walla's Pepper Bridge Vineyard adds to the wine's deep color and character.
Randy Dunn is one of the world’s most celebrated makers of extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignons.
Dunn established his reputation at Caymus Winery from 1975 to 1985, where his Cabernet Sauvignons became the benchmark for the industry. In addition, his artistry shaped other premium wineries that now enjoy an acclaimed place in the sun (Pahlmeyer, Livingston, La Jota and others). Since 1979, Dunn has produced roughly 5,000 cases a year of his Dunn Vineyards Cabernets.
Randy is known not only for his famous wines, but for his philosophy on how to make wine. He does it his way - leaving the floor of the Napa Valley “to corn and melon farmers,” he tends his vines in the red stony soil of Howell Mountain. There are no road signs; no retail sales. And don’t look for him in a winery tour guide. No time for that, as Randy spends his quiet hours making his wonderful heirloom wines.
Randy lives with his wife, Lori, next to the winery on Howell Mountain.
