This highly-anticipated boutique Cabernet blend impresses with a silky smooth texture, plush tannins, and seriously delicious, dark fruit that remind us of best-selling trophy wines. We have judged the last ten Collina vintages and this is a strong candidate for the best-ever upon release. Flavors of dark chocolate and espresso lead to seductive layers of tightly-wound fruit complimented by seamlessly integrated French oak. This impressive new offering truly defies its humble price tag and may be enjoyed tonight (decant 1⁄2 hour). Our team rates this a solid 96+ rating now and predict it will evolve into 97 points over the next decade in our judgment. – April 2023

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-1980s
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 our 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.