2019 DVO

This is the second release of the joint venture wine of Tuscany’s Ornellaia and Napa’s Dalla Valle, and it’s a step up in quality. Beautiful blue fruit with blueberry and boysenberry aromas that go to blackcurrants, together with some graphite. Full-bodied, yet toned with polished tannins. Nutmeg notes come through. The tannins spread across the palate and caress. Lovely texture to the wine. Drinkable already, but better in two or three years. (2022)

I was blown away by the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon DVO, a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc made as a collaboration between the team at Dalla Valle and Ornellaia. Remarkable notes of red and black currants, spring flowers, lead pencil, loamy earth, and classy oak all emerge from this young yet amazingly balanced, seamless Cabernet. Full-bodied on the palate and perfectly balanced, with silky tannins, it will probably be as good as it gets with 7-8 years of bottle age and is a magical Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that will evolve for 30 years or more. (2022)

This is the second vintage of this new joint project between Ornellaia in Tuscany and Dalla Valle in Napa Valley. This year’s blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, and the contributing sites are similar to last year, based around the AVAs of Oakville, Mount Veeder, and Coombsville. Very deep purple-black in color, the 2019 DVO has a wonderfully perfumed nose of lilacs, red roses, and stewed black tea over a core of red currant jelly, black raspberries, plum preserves, and clove oil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a solid line of very fine-grained tannins supporting the rich, perfumed black fruits, contrasted by crunchy red berries that deliver well-knit freshness. It finishes very long and layered. 550 cases were made. (2022)