Dana Estates Hershey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

A 300-case Howell Mountain Cabernet from Dana Estates, the Napa house founded by Korean wine importer Hi Sang Lee — 97 points from Vinous and James Suckling, now 15 years on.

Taste
Dark cherry, blackberry, and blueberry over graphite, crushed rock, smoke, and licorice, with violets and a mineral, saline edge. Dense and precise, with firm Howell Mountain tannin now folding into the fruit.

Region
From the Hershey Vineyard at 1,800 feet on Howell Mountain, Napa Valley — fractured bedrock, gravel, and volcanic ash, farmed to under two tons an acre. Dana Estates was founded in 2005 by Hi Sang Lee, whose Nara Cellar imports fine wine to Korea; winemaker Cameron Vawter with Philippe Melka consulting. The 2011 was barrel-fermented and aged 21 months in new French oak; 300 cases.

About This Wine
Body: Full body · Acidity: Bright, mountain-fresh · Texture: Firm, fine-grained tannin, integrating

Taste Profile

Source: Vivino community taste data (45 member taste ratings, all vintages).

Best For
Gift for a collector who values Korean-founded Napa, milestone steak dinner, mountain Cabernet for a Bordeaux drinker, cellar bottle with a decade left

For Who
Collectors of Howell Mountain and Melka-consulted wines, Korean-American gift-givers who want a story behind the bottle, hosts serving rich braises

Similar To
If you like Dunn Howell Mountain, Colgin IX Estate, or Bryant Family, this is the same mountain-Cabernet register — structure and minerality first, built to age.

Pairing
Dry-aged ribeye, braised short rib, lamb shank, venison, Korean BBQ (galbi), aged Gouda, dark-chocolate desserts

Drink Window
Drink now through 2031. Decant 60 minutes; another 5 years will soften the tannin further.

Collector Note
2011 was Napa’s cool, rainy vintage, but Howell Mountain caught a long Indian summer that ripened its Cabernet late and slowly — the 2011 Hershey was picked in November. Antonio Galloni re-tasted it in 2021 and gave it 97 points with a window to 2031; James Suckling also scored it 97. Only 300 cases were made and Dana sells mainly through allocation. Buy 2: one now, one for 2029.

Mood
Mountain, structured, proud, cellar-worthy

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Wasn’t 2011 a bad Napa vintage?
A: It was cool and rainy on the valley floor, and quality varied. Howell Mountain sat above the fog and got a long, dry Indian summer, so its Cabernet ripened late but fully. The 2011 Hershey was picked in November and outscored many valley-floor 2011s — 97 from Vinous and from James Suckling.

Q: Who is behind Dana Estates?
A: Hi Sang Lee, the Korean businessman who founded Nara Cellar, Korea’s leading fine-wine importer, bought the estate in 2005 and hired Philippe Melka to consult. Dana became one of Napa’s cult names within a decade, with three 100-point wines.

Q: Should I drink it now or cellar it?
A: Both work. At 15 years it is open and complex with a 60-minute decant. Galloni’s window runs to 2031, so there is no rush — Howell Mountain tannin rewards patience.