Decanter: 97 Punkte
"This Oakville Dalla Valle Cabernet is effortlessly approachable, with expressive black and blue-toned fruit layered with elegant sagebrush spice. Medium-bodied yet rich, it showcases super-suave tannins that are gentle on the palate, offering less tannic grip than in more structured vintages. A true gift for longtime collectors, this is a wine you’ll want to enjoy from the moment it arrives at your door. The fruit is bright and energetic, with pure blackberry and juicy blue fruit, accented by perfumed violet notes. Everything feels remarkably harmonious and in excellent condition—a wine of both pleasure and complexity, standing out as one of the most compelling expressions from this challenging vintage. This is a bottle to be proud to pour, one that shines both now and over long, lingering meals. The core Cabernet blocks come from those in front of the house (House Block), as well as a west-facing hillside block and a later-ripening parcel on the right-hand side of the driveway through the gate, which imparts natural acidity, focus, and length. These components are later blended with a barrel selection of Cabernet Franc from the property, which makes up roughly 30% of the vineyard." - Jonathan Cristaldi (02/2025)
