Dalla Valle Collina Dalla Valle Red 2013Oakville

We tasted this last month at the Taste of Oakville, a trade and media tasting with all Oakville wineries sharing their new and current vintages, including this incredible 2013 offering from Dalla Valle. Offering all-estate fruit from this renowned east Oakville hillside property, the 2013 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (42%) and Cabernet Franc (58%). It gives out a "floral and spice-rich fragrance immediately.  As it opens, the flavor profile is exceedingly generous, with layers of black fruit, gravel, and smoke spreading across the palate.  With all its density and richness, the wine benefits from decanting, and continues to open with time in the glass." For all the wines I offer that are the newest and most compelling, Dalla Valle remains one of my favorites as each year, winemaker Andy Erickson showcases the vineyard's potential.