1990 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon

Community Tasting Notes (43) Avg Score: 92.2 points

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  2/29/2024 - SpenceP wrote: 94 Points

  Unlike my previous bottle (see 10/12/2020), this bottle had a cork that was extremely dry and fragile, and immediately after opening, the wine seemed much too old--all autumn forest and leather, with a touch of spices and a lot of bitter acidity. But, very slowly, over the next hour and a half in the glass, this came back to life: black olives, coffee, gentle cocoa, blackberries, a touch of mint, faint faint hint of citrus, and a suave and lovely extremely long aftertaste. A quiet wine, and very very nice. But this wine really needed the hour and half in the glass to become enjoyable, and even a little more to be at its best--decanting might be a good idea. [Tasted over more than two hours from the Jancis Robinson glass. I gave this bottle a week upright to allow the sediment to settle out. The score and final description reflect the wine at its best, almost two hours after pouring.]

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  11/24/2022 - Brain Capers wrote:

  Sadly a tired old bottle. Drinkable, but the fruit was fading and overcome by the char. The cork was a crumble, the edge stuck to the neck. One bottle left, maybe it will perform better.

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  10/5/2020 - SpenceP wrote: 94 Points

  Very rich and gently suave. The cork was in remarkably good condition for a 30 year old wine (but I would still recommend a prong opener). A bit subdued at first, but over the course of an hour or more in the glass it gradually filled out, with rich cherries, chocolate, mint, coffee, plums, a brief hint of olives, and a lovely long aftertaste. Probably at its peak. My guess is that this will stay beautiful (if other bottles have corks in as good shape as this one) for another 5 years.

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  7/7/2020 - MQuentel@web.de Likes this wine: 94 Points

  1990 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep dark ruby red with smaller edge lightening. Dark fruit, plum toasted, balsamic notes, black olive tapenade, lots of laurel. Medium acidity, with a slightly sweet spice, super nice density, blackberries, plum, juicy extra sweetness, sweet cassis, figs, melted, rolling round tannins, very juicy, also on the palate fine ethereal - garrique and leather. All in all very balanced, with nice viscosity - a sexy, great matured CS from the Napa Valley. No hurry yet 94 points 2020 - 2028

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  3/13/2020 - jkoenen wrote: 94 Points

  Lovely bottle of Mature Napa Cab.

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