Del Dotto

A winery with some serious prestige, Del Dotto Vineyards is a family-owned winery which focuses on small production, premium wines. Owner Dave Del Dotto has spent the last 20 years acquiring vineyards in some of the top American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) including Rutherford, Oakville, St. Helena, Spring Mountain, Howell Mountain, and Sonoma Coast. The new release wines were hugely impressive. I had the chance to visit their gorgeous chateau in Oakville recently and was absolutely blown away with the splendor of the palatial setting. The tasting was largely held in their expansive cave and I had the opportunity to try some of their highly impressive 2014 Cabernet wines still in the barrel. The 2014 Del Dotto Chardonnay (WWB, 94) is a huge success, showing wonderful minerality and opulent fruit flavors. Their Sparkling wine, the 2011 Del Dotto ‘Bubbles Brut Cuvee’ (WWB, 93) was one of the best domestic sparkling wines that I have sampled in the past year. This is a very special, winery only wine that showed a huge range of aromatics and flavors. The 2014 Cabernets in the barrel were massive, none more so than their, 2014 Del Dotto Cabernet 'Villa Del Lago' (WWB, 94-97) which shows tremendous potential. Learn more about this incredible winery at http://www.deldottovineyards.com Here are the gorgeous new release wines from Del Dotto.

2011 Del Dotto 'Bubbles Brut Cuvee' Sparkling Wine- This opens with a bouquet of apricot, brioche, hazelnuts and Gravenstein apple. There are flavors of brioche, Granny Smith apple, banana, cut grass, poached pear. The mouthfeel and texture of this wine is gorgeous.  Drink 2016-2023- 93

2014 Del Dotto Sauvignon Blanc- The wine opens with aromas of cut grass, Bartlett pear, Granny Smith Apple and fennel. There are bright flavors of starfruit, pink grapefruit, and Gravenstein apple. Drink 2016-2022- 91

2014 Del Dotto Chardonnay- The 2014 Del Dotto Chardonnay, sourced from the Sonoma Coast, is a stunner of a wine that impresses from start to finish. This has aromas of butterscotch, poached pear, and creme brulee. There are flavors of creme brulee, vanilla, bananas foster and hints of allspice. This has an opulent texture and mouthfeel, as the intensity of this wine brings you back to the glass for more. The lingering, 45 plus second finish, is absolutely marvelous. This will have a long life in the cellar, as I can see this picking up some exciting secondary characteristics over the next decade. Drink 2016-2022- 94

2010 Del Dotto ‘Cinghiale Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2014 Del Dotto Pinot Noir is an insanely delicious and lithe bottling that is sourced from the Fort Ross-Seavivew AVA. The wine opens with bright aromatics of spicebox, red cherry, cedar, red raspberry and pomegranate. There are rich flavors of nutmeg, red cherry, red raspberry and hints of guava. The finish lingers to this memorable and seamless Pinot Noir wine. Drink 2016-2023- 94

2014 Del Dotto Syrah -This excellent Syrah wine begins with aromas of smoked meats, black cherry and black olive. There are rich flavors of black cherry blackberry and black olive. Drink 2016-2022 -92

2014 Del Dotto Merlot- The 2014 Del Dotto 'Rutherford Estate' Merlot is a dense and brooding Merlot wine. This wine opens with aromatics of red cherry, spicebox, anise and milk chocolate. There are flavors of black cherry, black olive, milk chocolate and toffee. The mouthfeel and density of the wine is just gorgeous. Drink 2016-2026- 92

2014 Del Dotto ‘Cave Blend’ Red Wine- A blend of 62% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc with the rest Cabernet and Zinfandel. The wine begins with aromatics of black olive, sandalwood, red cherry, anise and cassis. There are flavors of cassis anise, black cherry and hints of pipe tobacco. Drink 2016-2028- 92

2014 Del Dotto Cabernet- Another great wine in the strong Del Dotto lineup is the 2014 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon which shows wonderful terroir and fruit flavors. This wine is a blend of 77% Cabernet with 10% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The wine starts with aromatics of cassis, anise, pipe tobacco and black cherry. There are flavors of mocha, anise, creme de cassis and pope tobacco. Intense and layered with a lovely mouthfeel. Drink 2016-2028- 92

2014 Del Dotto Cabernet ‘Lot ST 'St. Emillon' Barrel Sample- This wine has aromatics of mocha, anise, creme de cassis and black cherry. There are flavors of anise, black cherry, anise, cassis and coffee grounds. The mouthfeel is stunning as the wine finishes beautifully. Drink 2017-2030- 92-95

2014 Del Dotto Cabernet Lot ST 'Orion' Barrel Sample- The wine begins with aromatics of anise, cassis, mocha and cloves. There are flavors of anise, creme de cassis black olive, black cherry and mocha. This is dense and delicious. Drink 2017-2030- 93-96

2014 Del Dotto Cabernet 'Oakville 9 Oaks' Cabernet Barrel Sample- The wine opens with aromatics of cassis, anise, black cherry, baking spices and blackberry. There are flavors of anise, creme de cassis, blackberry jam and dark chocolate. The mouthfeel and intensity of the wine is gorgeous. Drink 2017-2033- 94-97

2014 Del Dotto Cabernet 'U-Stave American Oak' - The wine starts with aromas of red cherry, anise, cassis and hints of baking spices. There are flavors of black cherry, anise, cassis and hints of baking spices. Drink 2016-2029- 92

2014 Del Dotto Cabernet 'Family Reserve Rutherford Estate' Barrel Sample- Still exceedingly young and having a very long life in front of it, the 2014 'Family Reserve Rutherford Estate' is a heavyhitter of a Cabernet, which shows off this exciting vintage.  The massive Cabernet wine opens with aromatics of creme de cassis, anise, milk chocolate and black cherry. There are intense flavors of anise, creme de cassis, milk chocolate and hints of pipe tobacco and mint. The mouthfeel is chewy and extremely smooth with an intense viscosity. It will be very intriguing to see how this beauty evolves. Drink 2017-2035- 94-97

2014 Del Dotto Cabernet 'Villa Del Lago' Barrel Sample- This monster of a wine will need considerable time to evolve. However, it is very exciting sampling it in the barrel, as this gorgeous, intense and structured Cabernet is exceedingly delicious at this juncture. This Cabernet is sourced from vineyards in the Pritchard Hill AVA. The wine begins with intoxicating aromatics of spicecake, anise, creme de cassis, and dark chocolate. There are rich flavors of anise, creme de cassis, milk chocolate, black cherry and baking spices. Balanced and elegant, yet intense, this is a stunner from the winemaking team at Del Dotto. Drink 2018-2035- 94-97