2019 DVO Napa Valley Red
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I was blown away by the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon DVO, a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc made as a collaboration between the team at Dalla Valle and Ornellaia. Remarkable notes of red and black currants, spring flowers, lead pencil, loamy earth, and classy oak all emerge from this young yet amazingly balanced, seamless Cabernet. Full-bodied on the palate and perfectly balanced, with silky tannins, it will probably be as good as it gets with 7-8 years of bottle age and is a magical Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that will evolve for 30 years or more.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
More reviews and scores
This feels like it is getting to the heart of Napa in its confidence and depth, but it has freshness and sculpted fruits that bring in the deft touch you would expect from Axel Heinz and Maya Dalle Valle. Blueberry, cassis and damson fruits, striking depth, grip and energy, this goes long on velvety texture, studded with pomegrante, mandarin peel, smoked herbs and cracked pepper spice. Only the second vintage of DVO and already it feels like a name to seek out. I'm a fan of the 2019 vintage in Napa generally, and this shows why. 75% new oak for ageing, held in bottle for one year before release. The grapes are from sites across Oakville, Mount Veeder and Coombsville.