2022 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

DEC97 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.
TWI96 The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little swirling to unlock notes of blackberry preserves, warm cassis, and black raspberries, leading to suggestions of clove oil, pencil lead, and charcoal. Full-bodied, the palate is coated with muscular black fruit layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and beautifully knit freshness, finishing long and minerally. It’s wonderfully classic in the best possible way!
WA96 I appear to have underestimated Dalla Valle’s 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate prior to bottling, as this blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot is now showing more harmony and length. On the nose, intense black cherries join dark, loamy earth scents, while the medium to full-bodied palate is rich and velvety, showing admirable concentration, texture and terrific persistence on the finish.
VIN95 The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the wines of this very challenging vintage. Pliant and expressive, this mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon is all class. The softer style of the year is evident, but there are no hard edges, no awkward contours. Floral and spice notes play o! a core of dark-toned Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. The 2202 is simply impeccably done in every aspect.
JS95 Deep, concentrated and profound, so layered and complex. Blueberries, blackcurrants, spearmint and hints of iron, anise and aromatic red fruit on the nose. The powerful tannins are powdery and fine, giving a subtle grip to the texture as well as promising a long life in the bottle. Contains 80% cabernet sauvignon, 18% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2035.
JD95 A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a more restrained, elegant wine in the vintage, yet it still has the supple, approachable style of the vintage as well. Darker currants, cedar pencils, smoked tobacco, and hints of chocolate all define the aromatics, and it’s full-bodied, has a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, ripe yet building tannins, and a gorgeous finish.