2016 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseurs' Series Vicard French Oak St Helena Mountain Block 2

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 93.5 points

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  10/6/2018 - csimm wrote: 92 Points

  Del Dotto Tasting + Barrels & Beasts; 10/5/2018-10/6/2018: From barrel. It was very interesting to note the difference between this Vicard Energie barreled wine, and the exact same wine but from the Vicard Privilege barrel. This Energie was more abrasive and wood-influenced than the silkier Privilege (refer to my previous note on the Privilege that I sampled the day before.
  
  This Energie was good, but much more angular and rough around the edges than the Privilege.

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  10/5/2018 - csimm wrote: 95 Points

  Del Dotto Tasting + Barrels & Beasts; 10/5/2018-10/6/2018: From barrel. Energetic and concentrated, the St. Helena Mountain Vicard shows nice depth of flavor and notable intensity that drives the fruit forward without pummeling you over the palate with it. A good focus here accomplishes this sensation of a push without a punch. Wild black raspberry, black cherry, blackberry, and some bramble. The finish was grippy and firm, but stayed away from being harsh or angular in any way.
  
  The sample here was from the Vicard Privilege, which provided a smoother and more texturally silky mouthfeel over the Vicard Energie (which I sampled the following day at Barrels & Beasts). The Energie was a little more abrasive around the edges than this Privilege. This same wine was also sampled the following day in a Darnajou barrel, which was more akin to this Vicard Privilege.
  
  I imagine this particular wine will need another couple of years after its final bottling to fully come together. Very promising. 94-95+ points for now, with certain upside after 2021+.

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