Simply stated, this is a big WOW wine! Intensely flavorful with deep dark fruit, a divinely silky smooth texture, and an overall freshness that reminds me of far pricier reds from Bordeaux’s left bank (in prime vintages). Similar to recent vintages, this magnificent effort displays a core of cassis, blackberry, graphite and espresso bean complimented by a slight hint of creamy vanilla oak on the prodigious finish. This distinguished young Cabernet Sauvignon promises to impress for decades to come! For perspective, I recently savored a sample of the 1988 Estate Cabernet that had aged perfectly in the winery’s library for exactly three decades. Hence, I can testify that, given proper cellaring, these Dalla Valle wines will thrill for a generation.

Dalla Valle Vineyards Winery

In 1992, Robert Parker opined about Dalla Valle
Cabernet: “This tiny producer has burst on the scene with some extraordinary wines. This
exceptionally strong effort clearly merits buying as futures given the limited production and
surprisingly modest prices” in Wine Advocate #81.

For perspective, those “modest” priced bottles originally sold for $40 but now trade at auction
for over $1,000! I recently visited Naoko Dalla Valle at her spectacular property in the hills of
Napa’s legendary Oakville appellation overlooking a cadre of ‘Cult’ Cabernet neighbors including
Screaming Eagle, Rudd, etc. Naoko is a charming woman with a keen sense of the value of
personal relationships and terroir in the pursuit of crafting one of the most celebrated wines in
the world.

Naoko and her late husband Gustave Dalla Valle planted their vineyard in the mid-1980’s before
any so-called ‘Cult’ Cabernets had launched onto the collector scene. Original winemaker Heidi
Barrett shared duties at Dalla Valle and Screaming Eagle in the early vintages {not a bad way to
spend the day in my opinion!}. Today, the Screaming Eagle connection remains as current
winemaker Andy Erickson (crafted the 100 point 2007 Screaming Eagle) works closely with
Naoko and world-famous wine consultant Michel Rolland. Dalla Valle Cabernets have garnered
a whopping twelve 98 – 100 point ratings from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, placing them
among the most highly acclaimed Cabernets on Earth over the last 2 decades.