January 6, 2024 - Exceptional balance, in no way a bruising fruit bomb, but emerging secondary flavors and long finish. Felt lucky to enjoy it.
September 22, 2023 - This is a crowd pleaser.
July 30, 2023 - Agree with Badmonkey's note.
May 11, 2023 - Oakville AVA tasting (67 Pall Mall): I liked the Dalla Valle wines - a little rough round the edges and characterful, which was a tonic in a room full of polish and gloss. This has around 20% cab franc in the blend and it has a marked impact: violet, rose and a hint of green leafy notes provide interest and complexity. Some sweet spice and sweet dark fruits- cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant- which just about stay away from being jammy. Some grain to the tannins still, ample acidity and it's still mostly primary - so you'd bet on this continuing to develop very nicely.
August 28, 2022 - Fruit bomb. Hedonistic and delicious but ripe fruit is dominant over acid, tannin, and any secondary characteristics. Decanted for two hours through a coffee filter with moderate sediment removed.
October 13, 2021 - This is an excellent wine. A bit young so prepare to decant a few hours. It has power to it that will round out with time. Very enjoyable now but definitely potential to be better.
September 30, 2021 - This is confirming my previous tasting note...this wine is absolutely gorgeous. In 5 words: Intense, complex, long, deep and sexy as hell Can't wait to taste the 2018.
June 26, 2021 - Dark ruby fruit - blackberry, currants, dark cherry, and some blueberry. Really smooth mid-palate with a beautiful purity and solid depth/concentration. Nice vibrant/rich flavors of dark berries, some spice, cassis, cocoa, and a graphite component. Fairly long finish. Decanted for three hours and drank over a couple more. Improved a little with time but drinking well after the decant. A nice wine - no surprise of the 97 rating from WA. 83% cab sauvignon and 17% cab franc.
May 6, 2021 - Another bottle, and this will be my last one for a while(request from wife to open for her birthday, hopefully, it will not be same request every year or I will be out very quickly!) This is one of those wines where you think to yourself, I should have bought more, even though a hefty price tag it is worth every $. This is for sure one of the top wines of Napa. With dark fruit, crushed florals, potting soil, cigar box and black pepper, the palate is powerful yet so wonderful structured with energy and persistence that channels that wonderful dark berry primary fruit on a wave of dried herbs, mineral sparks and chocolate notes. The tannins are finely grained and beautifully structured leading to a long finish. This is one of these wines I hope to enjoy over the next 20 years. Now let us hope I can hold off for the next 5 years.
April 16, 2021 - What power at this price point. Incredible and dense nose. Blackfruit power. Currant, blackberry.
Consistent in the pallet. Smidge of vanilla and mint to round it out. Endless finish. Excellently put together!