2007 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon
Community Tasting Note
Mark1npt Likes this wine:
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 - Obtained in the last year at auction. Decanted for 1 hour then back into the clean/dry bottle to take to dinner as I wasn't sure how the Erasmus would play out. Under stopper for 3+ hours then slow ox'd at the table for about 30 minutes. Consumed over 2 hours with escargot topped sirloin and steak frites. 92-93 initially, it improved further through dinner......
Dark purple in the glass, nose of dark black fruit and mild earthy notes like tilled black dirt. Tannins are fairly well resolved, and the wine overall is balanced except for missing just a bit of acidic energy on the back end. If this bottle had that, it would have had a bigger mouthwatering finish and I would have rated it a full 2-3 points higher. Still, it was a great accompaniment to the perfectly charred sirloin. I have one more bottle and am left with a dilemma. Is this all that's left at this juncture, or.....will letting it get another 5 years of age on it add complexity? I'm leaning towards this is all there is, as some Napa '07s are starting on a downward path now.
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5 comments have been posted
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (388 views)
Comment posted by wchrisw:
5/12/2024 7:17:00 AM - Someone once told me- “ better to drink too early than too late”. And I doubt this is too early.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
5/12/2024 7:59:00 AM - chris, I'm very fortunate in that my palate generally likes wine all along its path. I like them young on release, old as 40 years and everywhere in between as they always have something interesting to offer. I'm just not sure this one scores any better by holding it longer. Part of me wants to open it next week and part of me wants to wait a few more years to prove myself wrong. I had an '02 of this one a few months back and it was absolutely gorgeous......
Comment posted by wchrisw:
5/12/2024 12:39:00 PM - It’s always a tough call. If it’s good now who knows if it will get any “gooder”. If it declines you’ll be mad at yourself for holding out. At 17 years how much more evolution could there be? Different possibly, better unknown? Heck, palate and food variation could have impact as well. I’ll let you hold onto the last bottle for another year then it’s go time. Put it on your calendar!
Comment posted by Mark1npt:
5/12/2024 4:48:00 PM - I'm leaning your way......I just don't think the '07s (as good as they have been) have what it takes to go another 10-20 years and do well. I'll probably open it in the coming year. Thanks for convincing me!
Comment posted by wchrisw:
5/12/2024 5:45:00 PM - I’m here for you.