Community Tasting Notes 19

• msuwine wrote: 90 points

  June 13, 2023 - This rich and savory second wine is drinking fine right now, but I won't seek it out again (even at the $100-ish price point). Dark red and medium in body, the wine offers glossy aromas of black cherry and cardamon (read: not much there there). The flavors are similarly competent and mundane (adjectives I often reach for, perhaps unfairly, when describing an Andy Erickson wine), with notes of blueberry, cocoa, and pepper, followed by a dusty and brief finish. I'd dislike this wine more if it were more expensive - so I guess that's a plus - but this bottle is, in a word, forgettable. Blend of 52% Cab Sauvignon, 39% Cab Franc, and 9% Petit Verdot. 14.4% alcohol.

  Comment

• Tylerk wrote: 93 points

  February 4, 2023 - A bit of pop and pour so decanted, swirled to aerate and poured into glass to sit. This really opened up with meal- id suggest a 45m decant not a PnP! Great match with steak-lots of dark berry and a bit of tobacco. My guess is just getting ready so no rush to open but no worries if you do. This is always the QPR sweet spot for dalla valle!

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• tomoem Likes this wine: 92 points

  September 7, 2022 - Had this from a magnum. The wine opened beautifully right for the start. The aromatics are red fruit with blackberry, sweet plum, and a finish with that distinct tobacco leaf aroma. In mouth the wine is so left bank that it is convincing me I am having a petit Margaux. Tannins while present added to my chewiness. Still youthful I would hold for another 3-5 years.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• VAGenius Likes this wine: 94 points

  January 21, 2022 - Big legs in the glass. Nose of plum, spice, caramel, oak, and tobacco smoke. Black cherry, mint, mocha, cinnamon, nutmeg, and some burnt notes. Plush tannins, red fruits, and acidity support things on the finish with some stone notes then lush, soft lingering oak and vanilla. Very drinkable right now.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• sean7711 Likes this wine: 91 points

  June 18, 2021 - Needs more time - prominent oak treatment as someone else noted below. Came across a bit brash/boozy but settled down after a few hours of air. 2016 Vaso wiped the floor with this one, but in a few years I wonder where this will be. It was my only bottle though, so guess I won't know! 93+ in 2025

  1 person found this helpful Comment

Pro Reviews 2

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2016
• Type Red
• Producer Dalla Valle
• Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
• Designation Collina
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Napa Valley
• Appellation Oakville

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 11 (1%)
• In Cellars 855 (65%)
• Consumed 448 (34%)

Food Pairing

Who Likes This Wine

More About This Wine