One of the famed Napa wineries, 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. Del Dotto makes an incredible range of wines — everything from a port style wine to bubbles. I think that their overall lineup rivals the best in California. The new release wines were stunning. A few weeks back I was able to visit their stunning chateau in Oakville. A palatial setting, this place is just an incredible spot to taste wine. In their cave tasting you go down their long row of barrels, tasting their new release Cabernet wines.
For those who love the deep, extracted style of Cabernet, this is a must visit. While their 2015 Cabernet releases from the barrel were hugely impressive, I was struck by the quality of their overall lineup. One of the best Sparkling Wines out of California that I have had in the past year, their 2012 Del Dotto ‘Bubbles’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 94) carries a heavy price point but shows an incredible range of aromatics and flavors. This is just a stunning sparkler. Their 2015 Del Dotto ‘Family Reserve’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) was nearly as good, showing a gorgeous texture and mouthfeel. The best wines I tried were their limited release Cabernet wines. The 2015 Villa Del Lago Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 98) is one of Del Dotto’s signature releases. This wine is near perfection, showing gobs of dark fruits, as well as a silky texture and downright unctuous mouthfeel. Just was good was their new wine, the 2015 Del Dotto ‘The Beast’ Cabernet Sauvignon (WWB, 98), a scintillating and brooding wine that shows serious intensity, fruit weight and massive dark fruits. These stunning wines are among the best in Napa. Learn more about this famed winery at http://www.deldottovineyards.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by Del Dotto.
2016 Piazza Del Dotto Sauvignon Blanc This lithe and light colored Sauvginon Blanc wine begins with aromas of pear and starfruit lead to ripe kiwi, Granny Smith apple and nutmeg flavors. Drink 2017-2022- 91
2015 Del Dotto 'Family Reserve' Chardonnay- Del Dotto has gained a fabulous reputation for their Chardonnay and this rendition is excellent evidence of that. The Chardonnay saw 12 months in French oak prior to bottling. The wine begins with aromatics of brioche, nutmeg and vanilla cream. The creamy mouthfeel impresses. Ripe flavors of of vanilla cream, pineapple and bright pear. The finish is extremely long, which connects well with the intense viscosity. Drink 2017-2025- 93
2012 Del Dotto 'Bubbles' Sparkling Wine- Stunning and downright delicious, this vintage Sparkling Wine by Del Dotto is up there with the best of its kind in North America. This bright colored wine begins with brioche, cream and lemon zest aromatics. The mousse and mouthfeel is gorgeous. This leads to flavors of lime zest, pink grapefruit, and kiwi that connect well with lovely acidity and salinity. This is a memorable effort by Del Dotto. Drink 2017-2029- 94
2016 Piazza Del Dotto Rose- This Pinot Noir Rose opens with aromatics of rose petals, red cherry and red raspberry with mushroom accents. This leads to flavors of guava, strawberry, and white peach. The mouthfeel impresses. Drink 2017-2022- 91
2011 Villa Del Dotto Cabernet- Sourced from Prichard Hill this wine opens with a bouquet of red bell pepper, anise and creme de cassis with coffee grounds. The mouthfeel is plush as the wine delivers flavors of red bell pepper, anise, mocha and red currant. This has a marvelous texture and balance. Drink 2017-2031- 93
2015 Del Dotto ‘Cave Blend’ Red Wine- This delicious wine is a blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The wine opens with aromatics of pipe tobacco, mocha and sagebrush. There are deep flavors of mocha, cigar box, creme de cassis and anise. The silky texture impresses. Drink 2017-2030- 93
2015 Del Dotto 'Napa Valley' Cabernet Sauvignon- Del Dotto’s entry level Cabernet wine was aged in largely French oak, mostly new. The wine begins with aromas of sweet tobacco, mocha, anise and creme de csssis. The palate is plush delivering flavors of tar, mocha and changed mint with creme de cassis. This is every bit outstanding. Drink 2017-2029- 93
2015 Piazza Del Dotto 'Reserve' Cabernet- While this wine falls under Del Dotto’s second label, this is not your typical second choice wine. This Cabernet was primarily sourced from the Oakville AVA. Sweet cherry, roses and pipe tobacco aromatics lead to rich flavors of creme de cassis, anise, mocha and pipe tobacco. Some gritty tannins are at the end but the mouthfeel is gorgeous here. Drink 2017-2027- 92
2013 Piazza Del Dotto 'Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon- This great wine is a stunning effort from this estate. The wine has gorgeous aromas of coffee grounds, anise, creme de cassis and mocha. The plush texture is really compelling. Anise, creme de cassis and cofeee ground flavors impress. This is another outstanding Cabernet by Del Dotto. Drink 2017-2030- 94
2015 Del Dotto 'Vineyard 887 Colbert' Cabernet-This wine was aged in French oak and has gorgeous aromas of rich pipe tobacco, anise, milk chocolate and creme de cassis. With a silky mouthfeel and rich texture, black fruit flavors glide across the mid-palate. This memorable wine will have an exceedingly long life in the bottle. Drink 2018-2040- 95
2015 Del Dotto 'Vineyard 887 U Stave' Cabernet-This outstanding wine is entirely aged in American oak. Deep and penetrating aromas of creme de cassis, anise, mocha and tar with smoke impress. This leads to rich flavors of creme de cassis, anise, mocha and tar flavors impress. This has wonderful texture and some serious viscosity. Drink 2018-2040- 95
2016 Del Dotto 'Reserve' Pinot Noir- Ripe strawberry aromatics grip you immediately. Also pomegranate, orange rind and baking spice aromas intermingle. There are ripe flavors of red cherry preserves, tangerine, pomegranate seed and baking spices. This is seriously good Pinot Noir by Del Dotto. Drink 2017-2027-93
2015 Del Dotto 'The David Howell Mountain' Cabernet- ‘The David’ is an absolutely outstanding release by Del Dotto. This great wine begins with aromas of baking spices, sweet tipped tobacco, abuse, creme de cassis and mocha. The aromatics are downright intoxicating. The mouthfeel is gorgeous as dark chocolate covered cherries, sweet pipe tobacco, and mocha flavors deliver. The wine is a stunner by Del Dotto. Drink 2017-2030- 95
2015 Del Dotto 'The David Rutherford Estate' Cabernet- This great Cabernet is comprised of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with lesser parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This opens with an intense bouquet of mocha, graphite, creme de cassis and anise. The acidity and mouthfeel is outstanding. Flavors of creme de cassis, anise, tar and cigar box impress. This is intense as the mouth as rich flavors impress. Try to give this another year to fully amalgamate. Drink 2018-2040- 97
2015 Piazza Del Dotto 'Oakville Estate St. Emillon South Block' Cabernet Sauvignon- This outstanding wine begins with intense aromas of creme de cassis, mocha, sweet cherries and ash. The palate is plush delivering flavors of black tea, Asian spices, creme de cassis and mouthwatering acidity. Drink 2017-2027- 94
2015 Piazza Del Dotto 'Oakville Estate Alain Fouquet South Block' Cabernet Sauvignon-The aromatics are intense here as the wine displays ripe black tea, abuse, creme de cassis. The flavors are plush showing off mocha, anise, creme de cassis and tar flavors. This will drink marvelously over the next decade. Drink 2017-2027- 94
2015 Del Dotto 'Rutherford Estate Reserve' Cabernet- The 2015 ‘Rutherford Estate Reserve’ Cabernet is a stunner by Del Dotto. The wine is made from the best barrels from their Rutherford estate. The wine opens with aromatics of cigar box, ash, creme de cassis, anise and coffee grounds. The mouthfeel is gorgeous. There are deep flavors coffee grounds, mocha, anise and creme de cassis. The mouthwatering acidity grips you as you have to admire the tension in the wine. Drink 2018-2040- 97
2015 Del Dotto 'St. Helena Mountain Reserve' Cabernet- Del Dotto has another stunner of a Cabernet here with their 2015 ‘St. Helena Mountain Reserve’ Cabernet. This densely colored wine opens with intoxicating aromas of pencil shavings, creme de cassis, anise and huckleberry pie. The nose brings you constantly back to the glass for more. The mouthwatering acidity impresses. There is marvelous tension to this outstanding Cabernet. Downright intoxicating flavors of Turkish coffee, anise, black tea and mocha impress. The weight and texture is absolutely outstanding. The wine finishes long. Drink 2018-2040- 97
2015 Villa Del Lago Cabernet Sauvignon- This comes from a Pritchard Hill vineyard owned by Terry Taylor. All the fruit from the vineyard is used for the Villa Del Lago. The wine begins with aromas of creme de cassis, mocha, tar, and exotic spices. The palate is plush and luxurious . Flavors of creme de cassis, mocha, anise, black tea and crushed mint complete this silky wine. The mouthfeel is stunning as the wine glides through the mid palate. Exotic and downright intoxicating, enjoy the wine over the next few decades. Drink 2018-2040- 98
2015 Del Dotto 'The Beast' Cabernet Sauvignon- This special wine is a complex blend of some of the best lots from Del Dotto. The 2015 ‘The Beast’ opens with intense and layered aromatics of creme de cassis, anise, Turkish coffee and black olive tapenade. This has intense flavors of creme de cassis, anise, mocha, coffee grounds and crushed mint. Stunning, this has mouthwatering acidity and a silky mouthfeel that glides through the mid palate. Intoxicating and highly memorable, this is a simply amazing effort by Del Dotto that will cellar marvelously across decades. Drink 2018-2040- 98
NV Del Dotto 'Dolores' Port- This very serious dessert wine is a blend of vintages and is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with lesser parts Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel. The aromas are captivating showing off toasted figs, nutmeg, red cherry cordial and cigar accents. The flavors are intense showing sweet cherry, raspberry liquor, toffee and spicebox accents. Inviting and novel, this is a gorgeous effort. Drink 2017-2030- 94