2016 Dyer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain Napa Valley

JS93 This is dense and tight, yet shows ripe tannins and very pretty fruit. Full-bodied, layered and reserved for a Napa cabernet. Try in 2020.
VIN93 Dyer’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon offers lovely textural depth and nuance. Pliant, supple and inviting, the 2016 will drink very well with minimal cellaring. Lavender, sage, plum, mint and licorice complement the dark blue and purplish fruit nicely, while bright underpinnings of minerality extend the finish. Overall, this is a relatively approachable young Cabernet from Dawnine and Bill Dyer. Dollops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot round out the blend.
JD92-94 Tasted as a barrel sample and a slightly more Cabernet Sauvignon blend compared to the 2015, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain has a floral slant as well as terrific notes of black and blue fruits, hints of minerality, full-bodied, richness, finely polished tannin and a great finish. Like the 2015, it’s elegant and silky, and is a beautiful wine.

DUNNUCK: These classic wines are made by Dawnine Dyer and come from their tiny (2.3 acres) estate vineyard on Diamond Mountain, in the northern part of Napa Valley, at an elevation between 600-900 feet above sea-level. The vineyard was planted in 1993 and is almost completely dry farmed, and due to the size, it’s harvested mostly on the same day, with everything being cofermented and aging occurring all in French oak.

Matt Kramer: Dyer Vineyard—This is the tiny, personal vineyard (and home) of two former winemakers, Dawnine Dyer (former head winemaker of Domaine Chandon) and Bill Dyer (formerly head winemaker of Sterling Vineyards). They own a scant four acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot on Diamond Mountain. Located in what might be called Diamond Mountain’s “golden enclave” where Diamond Creek, Von Strasser, Reverie, and Dyer are virtually cheek to cheek. Dyer delivers the real goods. Simply put, these are great Cabernets. They brim with the characteristic coca and blueberry scent of Diamond Mountain Cabernet/Merlot. Ditto for the soft, ripe tannins. Quantity is obviously minute; quality superb.

BILL & DAWNINE DYER:
Dyer Cabernet Sauvignon is our flagship wine.  It is a traditional Bordeaux blend – based in Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot as supporting players.  It is the singular focus of our Estate Vineyard and our choice of varieties and clones as well as our farming practices are all designed to make this wine a pure reflection of the vineyard.
Specific attributes that are typical of Cabernet Sauvignon from Dyer Vineyard are black cherry, currents, cocoa, and cedar.  The wines are often savory with notes of violets and graphite.

The 2016 vintage – a warm dry season punctuated by 2 heat events in the last stages of development.   we waited for the heat to reside and harvested on Sept 26, 2016 with developed tannins and concentrated ripe fruit flavors.  The blend is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot.
Ripe red currants and plums with a deep layering of floral, lavender, graphite and cedar notes. Fully ripe flavors provide a sweet lushness that belies the firm dense structure.