It was January. It was Shannon’s birthday.
And it was cold outside.
Not chilly. Not brisk. COLD.
Like, f-cking polar bear cold.
She wanted something big, bold, and unapologetic about both. So, I raided the sample pool, and obliged!
And that’s it. That’s the whole story. Well, apart from what we drank, I mean…
2018 Del Dotto Vineyards ‘Piazza del Dotto’ Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $250
This flagship Cab from Del Dotto is sourced from the Oakville vineyards immediately surrounding their Piazza Del Dotto winery. The 2018 vintage was assembled from what they determined to be the 14 best barrels (all French oak, of which they utilized Treuil, Sylvain, Darnajou, Colbert, and Vicard, among others), in which the wine spent a full 2 years. Just over 270 cases were made.
This Cab is sultry, supple, and smooth. Do you fell every percent of its generous 15% abv? More or less, yeah. Fennel, dried herbs, black plums, dried figs, black currant, smoke, leather, and yeah, plenty of wood—I should have HATED this nose, but I most certainly did NOT hate it. The palate is huge, and while certainly powerful, winemaker Robbie Meyer managed to get those tannins feeling mostly silky-smooth. While this isn’t sporting the longest finish, there’s nothing not delectable about any second of this. Despite how fruity it comes off now, that structure will allow it a good many years in the bottle, and I am pretty sure that it will be deliciously sexy at any point along that aging curve. Fans of the style will love it.
Cheers!