Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2016

Coming on the heels of a prolonged multi-year drought, the 2016 growing season was defined by near-ideal conditions. Rain in March and early April allowed the vines to start the spring with ample moisture in the soil, making for healthy canopies and balanced vines. A dry, mild summer, with only one short heat event, helped the fruit ripen with deep color, intense aromatics, and ample natural acidity. Harvesting in September and early October allowed us to produce wines with remarkable depth, energy, and varietal typicity. Early reviews are that the wines from 2016 are some of the most compelling of the last decade.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon bottling from our estate fires on all cylinders. The general level of quality in the Valley was very high, and the depth and intensity of the fruit from our rugged hillside reached even higher heights. Our careful handling of the grapes, both in the vineyard and in the winery, paid off, as the Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and showy, with a degree of aromatic complexity and effusiveness that is the hallmark of our unique terroir. Immediately upon decanting, the room is filled with fruit and floral aromas—fresh-cut cherries, blackberries, blueberry pie, and orange blossom—along with earthier elements of dark roast coffee, wet slate, and underbrush. On the palate the wine is powerful, long, and tightly woven, delivering waves of flavor and texture that linger for nearly a full minute. Given its power and aging potential, it is remarkable that this wine is so utterly enjoyable straight from the bottle in it youth. It should age for decades to come.