Reviews

Villa Del Lago Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill

Extremely tight and constricted at this stage. It was much more open for business last year than now. Super grippy, especially when compared to the 2016 barrel sample VdL I had side-by-side with the…

Del Dotto Giovanni's Tuscan Reserve

From barrel. Bitter black cherry, black currant, wood, dark cranberry, and alcohol. A piecemeal presentation in its current state, with a tannic bite that never fully leaves the palate and allows the…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate Family Reserve

From barrel. The Rutherford became lost in the sea of other barrel samples that were a bit more compelling than this somewhat simple representation of its terroir. I could drink it, and it went fine…

Del Dotto Sauvignon Blanc

More tropical fruit cocktail than Sauvignon Blanc; heavy on the pineapple and melon fruit flavors. Medium-to-light weight; just enough grip to hold it all together. A short, somewhat watery finish.

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

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…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseurs' Series Vicard French Oak Vineyard 887 SO / Family

From barrel. 887 South Family Reserve. Much like the St. Helena Mountain Vicard Privilege I had the other day, this 887 Vicard Distinction's fruit worked quite well with the barrel influence. More…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon American Oak Alain Fouquet St Helena Mountain Block 2

From barrel. Similar in its flavor profile and grippy frame as the St. Helena Mountain Darnajou, except that the American oak (carved and grooved no less) imparted strong maple and brown sugar notes…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve Darnajou French Oak Connossieurs' St. Helena Mountain

From barrel. Block 2. Similar to the Vicard version of this wine I had the previous day, the St. Helena Mountain Darnajou provides both focused structure and exacting concentration, with a layered…

Del Dotto The David Howell Mountain

From barrel. The David Howell Mountain presents with a ripe plum and cherry syrup core. Some earthy kirsch, currant, and mocha notes compete for attention as well. The flavors seem to be there, but…

Piazza Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate Oakville

This worked decently with the steak served as the final savory course of the evening, but it was at the back of the pack compared to some of the other Cabernets at the table. Flat mid-palate compared…

Piazza Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseur's Series 9 Oaks French Select South

From barrel. Black fruit dominated by rich blackberry, black cherry, chocolate chunk, and spice. The 9 Oaks barrel really worked well with the core fruit in this particular concoction. Mid-palate was…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve Darnajou French Oak North

From barrel. This sample of the Piazza Del Dotto Oakville Estate Darnajou NORTH Family Reserve showed decent black cherry and plum core fruit. Surprisingly, the Darnajou was imparting flavors that…

Villa Del Lago Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill

From barrel. Energetic and spritely, this version of VdL was pumping some upper register red and black fruit and currant flavors along with an undercurrent of subtle riper bass notes on the…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon The Beast

From barrel. The best rendition of The Beast I've had over the last couple of years. Seemingly more focused than the 2015 was at this stage, and more akin to the 2014 in its concentration and…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate Family Reserve

Plum, black cherry, currant, and alcohol. Similar to the 887 previously sampled in that it came off a little abrasive, especially on the finish. Tannic and linear. At best, needs time.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve St. Helena Mountain

Tannic and youthful, but the grip isn't as abrasive as some of the other 2013s sampled. The fruit concentration manages to push through (barely) and provide for some decent pleasure. This wine begs…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Centre Sylvain Block 1 Howell Mountain

Much more accessible and giving than the Howell Single Cluster, this Block 1 is a powerful and tannic animal. Black cherry, plum, and some earth. Medium complexity and depth of flavor, this wine is…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon American Oak Carved & Grooved Alain Fouquet Vineyard 887 SO/FR St. Helena

Plum, black cherry, wood, torched brown sugar, chocolate, and some spice. A decent depth here, with a ripe fruit-giving style; luckily it's not overly ripe or mushy in its overall profile.

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Single Cluster Howell Mountain

From Magnum. Much like the Single Cluster Oakville, this Howell Mountain offering is black cherry dominant, with some red cherry and vanilla alcohol notes injected into the core. The initial attack…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseur's Series Vineyard 887 Family Reserve St. Helena

From barrel. A difficult wine to get a read on, with a plummy aftertaste that dominated the overall profile. Black cherry and unripe blackberry notes were also present. Some astringency on the back…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Single Cluster

Offered in Magnum only. Black cherry and red and black currant dominant. A similar flavor profile to some of the other Del Dotto Oakville wines, except that this had a little more heightened frame.…

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

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…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve Oakville Estate

Black cherry and red and black currant. Tannic and dry, with rustic edges that made for a flat and linear delivery overall. These 2013s seemingly need a ton of time. Cellar for another 3-5+ years and…

Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve 887

Higher toned cranberry, red and black currant, unripe red and black cherry, and alcohol. Riding high on the palate, with less depth than some of the other St. Helena offerings. Less giving in its…

Piazza Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve Oakville Estate

From barrel. As with the 887 sample, this Oakville presented with a strong plum component that dominated the profile. Its edges were soft, fruity, and overtly Merlot-esque in presentation. A bit of a…