Dalla Valle Vineyards
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
Flight #1 of our 1997 Retrospective. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. This was super similar to wine #4. The most striking characteristic for both wines was a powerful note of finely ground cumin on the nose. Fruit is mostly desiccated at this point; the structure keeping everything together. While dimming, this seemed to show indications that this was a slightly more powerful wine earlier in its life. I called this to be the “Dalle Valle”. Drink now.
Flight #1 of our 1997 Retrospective. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. This was super similar to wine #4. The most striking characteristic for both wines was a powerful note of finely ground cumin on the nose. Fruit is mostly desiccated at this point; the structure keeping everything together. While dimming, this seemed to show indications that this was a slightly more powerful wine earlier in its life. I called this to be the “Dalle Valle”. Drink now.
Jan 28th, 2024
From mag. Very intense in the nose. Violets, dark plum, stone grippy sour cherry and underneath some iron and iodine. Very good. Super young now, but a serious wine with a lot of upside
From mag. Very intense in the nose. Violets, dark plum, stone grippy sour cherry and underneath some iron and iodine. Very good. Super young now, but a serious wine with a lot of upside
Nov 25th, 2022
Drank like an aged Bordeaux. Beautiful mushroom, cherry, earth, chocolate and more. Ready to drink and smooth but really special.
Drank like an aged Bordeaux. Beautiful mushroom, cherry, earth, chocolate and more. Ready to drink and smooth but really special.
Oct 27th, 2022
Lithe and kinda tired. Stewed fruits. Have yet to have an older outstanding bottle of DV compared to similar vintage Mondavi or Montelena. Disappointed.
Lithe and kinda tired. Stewed fruits. Have yet to have an older outstanding bottle of DV compared to similar vintage Mondavi or Montelena. Disappointed.
Apr 26th, 2022Ripe plum, hints of mocha, some mint. Lovely rich midpalate. Fresh and dynamic
Ripe plum, hints of mocha, some mint. Lovely rich midpalate. Fresh and dynamic
Feb 20th, 2022
Wonderful. Deep color and fruit. Vibrant.
Wonderful. Deep color and fruit. Vibrant.
Nov 28th, 2021Big, bold and lush. Rich berry fruit, hints of chocolate and real lush mouthfeel.
Big, bold and lush. Rich berry fruit, hints of chocolate and real lush mouthfeel.
Sep 23rd, 2021
Whoaaa.... A dark, black fruit character, notes of smoke and gravel, and a heft that makes the taster pause and take notice. These hallmark aromas and textures are delivered on a bed of soft, supple, round tannins. This will certainly age for a decade. Superb offering drink thru 2022.
Whoaaa.... A dark, black fruit character, notes of smoke and gravel, and a heft that makes the taster pause and take notice. These hallmark aromas and textures are delivered on a bed of soft, supple, round tannins. This will certainly age for a decade. Superb offering drink thru 2022.
Jan 24th, 2021
Best showing yet for the 2014, a wine that continues to come together in bottle. The energy of the year married to that Eastern Oakville richness. I underestimated this on release... Tasted during the Vinous Learn Oakville seminar 💥🤪😍.
😊🤪🍷💥
Best showing yet for the 2014, a wine that continues to come together in bottle. The energy of the year married to that Eastern Oakville richness. I underestimated this on release... Tasted during the Vinous Learn Oakville seminar 💥🤪😍.
😊🤪🍷💥
Moderately saturated dark red. Slightly violety aromas of blueberry, raspberry, menthol, milk chocolate, leather and coffee bean. Juicy, intense and a bit tightly wound, with dark fruit, mineral, violet and licorice flavors framed and extended by sound acidity. Finishes firmly tannic, juicy and long, with repeating floral lift. Clearer and more youthful than a first sample I tried, which was creamy and sweet but a tad rustic and less transparent to its site. This bottle is just now ready to drink. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, June 2020)
Moderately saturated dark red. Slightly violety aromas of blueberry, raspberry, menthol, milk chocolate, leather and coffee bean. Juicy, intense and a bit tightly wound, with dark fruit, mineral, violet and licorice flavors framed and extended by sound acidity. Finishes firmly tannic, juicy and long, with repeating floral lift. Clearer and more youthful than a first sample I tried, which was creamy and sweet but a tad rustic and less transparent to its site. This bottle is just now ready to drink. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, June 2020)