2010 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Caves

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 91.1 points

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  3/17/2018 - mrrsposton Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Like it should

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  7/7/2015 - deon40g wrote: 91 Points

  It appears the CellarTracker community has tempered it's opinion of the 2010 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Caves since my original review two years ago, moving from a 95-point rating to 91 points. On the other hand, my opinion has improved somewhat. I am now meeting the CT community at 91 points (that is a one-point upgrade from my two previous 90-point ratings of this wine in 2013 and earlier this year). I feared this bottle had suffered from heat damage about two weeks ago, which prompted me to pop the cork. The initial pour without decanting was not encouraging...very aggressive out of the bottle with high acidity, strong tannins, and a bit of vinegar. I walked away for an hour or two and came back to a surprise experience. I stand by the comments in my previous review, but I add that this wine has definitely shaped up a bit over past couple of years. This bottle was the last of my 2010s, but it has earned another showing in my home. Unfortunately, although Wine Spectator released a new set of ratings last month, there is still no rating for any vintage of Del Dotto Caves. C'est la vie. This is a solid Napa Valley cab. Plus I still love the bottle label.
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  Rating Scale: Extraordinary (95-100 points); Outstanding (90-94); Very Good to Excellent (85-89); Good (80-84); Average (75-79); Below average (70-74); Avoid (50-69)
  
  Note: Cost reflects base price only; it excludes any taxes and shipping.

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  10/18/2013 - deon40g Likes this wine: 90 Points

  The Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Caves is highly regarded within the CellarTracker community. The 2010 vintage carries a community rating of 95. I was excited to find this wine carried at a Specs store I frequent in Houston, TX...and competitively priced at $53 (a significant drop from the $68 price tag it previously carried at Specs). However, my opinion of the 2010 vintage appears to deviate from the greater CellarTracker community. This Del Dotto is certainly a fine wine, but I was not blown away by it. I prefer more body on the palette and a bit less minerality. I give the 2010 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Caves a rating of 90. Unfortunately Wine Spectator has not published a rating for any vintage of Caves, but I'm curious to know what other rating authorities are giving it. I have two more bottles on hand, so perhaps my opinion will improve on a second or third tasting. With that said, a rating of 90 is very admirable. I could potentially stretch to a 92, but I am hard pressed to justify a 95 at this point.
  
  As a side note, the label design for Caves is one of my all time favorites. It has a sophisticated bestial quality that beckons you to endulge in its contents. A few other fantastic labels on my favorite wines are as follows: 1) Orin Swift's zinfandel blend, "The Prisoner", from Napa Valley; 2) Valdicava's Brunello di Montalcino; and 3) Domenico Clerico's nebbiolo, "Aeroplan Servaj", from Barolo (this wine uses six different labels, but I love the one with the pinball flippers on the bottom).
  
  Rating Scale: Extraordinary (95-100 points); Outstanding (90-94); Very Good to Excellent (85-89); Good (80-84); Average (75-79); Below average (70-74); Avoid (50-69)
  
  Note: Cost reflects base price only; it excludes any taxes and shipping.

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  2/23/2013 - europat55 wrote:

  Hot. Way too young for me to rate.

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