Del Dotto, Rutherford Estate 7 Rows Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley

Decanted for over two hours and over the course of dinner. This wine is absolutely massive. Probably one of the biggest wines I have ever had. It's too big imo. The fruit and alcohol are way out of balance. It was definetely a fun experience to enjoy such a wine as this. Had it along with a 2013 VDL which I found to be way more appealing. The Beast is just that. It was a perfect pairing to Tomahawk chops. …

Served blind. My last bottle of this one. 30 min double decant then a slow ox of 3 hours as I waited to pour it for our group. Wish I had kept the stopper in the bottle during that time. The nose was so much more floral/fruited early on. My 2nd WOTN just ahead of the super aged Keenan. The nose was fantastic early on. Caramel, graphite and dark red/black mountain fruit, great weight in the mouth and balance of …

Splash double decant, followed by a 90 min slow ox (and then stored in sealed bottle until just prior to drinking). Deep dark magenta color. Charred blueberry, dark bitter chocolate, blackberry, anise, fig, and limestone. Smooth, dry palate. Firm, full tannins on the longish finish. This was a pleasant surprise to kick off the Deer Valley edition of Wine-a-Palooza. I didn’t think DD could make a wine like this. It’s aged very well and would likely be even better at …

2nd bottle from the auction lot....at the pnp, there are great florals coming off this bottle even at altitude. Pine and briar and black berries, too. Double decanted and then slow ox'd for 90 min in bottle to take to the restaurant for tonight's dinner. Resolved and even at dinner but lost some of its 'juice' and nose. I don't know if it's the altitude or just that this bottle may have required less airtime? It again scored a point …

Deer Valley Palooza in 3 stages with Mark1npt and Agelvis; 6/25/2023-7/1/2023 (8,100 ft) : Tied for my wine of the night and my first del dotto——thanks Mark. Very balanced and medium in body and intensities. Slate on the nose and a chalkiness that I liked. Blackberries on the nose and palate. Great structure, will go a long time.

First bottle of a recent auction find, and first wine tasted this evening blind with the HMCs. Decanted for 1 hour prior to the start of this evening's event. Cork was solid, nose was exquisite right from the pnp. Strong dark red/black fruit, some perfumed floral notes like violets and maybe a little rose petal, too. Dark, opaque purple in the glass, not much of a hint of any aging showing up just yet. The palate reflected some aging as …

Held this 2013 Del Dotto 100-pointer as long as I could. Opened to a beautiful nose. I tasted before decanting and it as fruitier than expected and tight. However after decanting for 90 minutes, it changed dramatically. Pre dinner glass was silky and full bodied, a beautiful representation of Napa cab. Second glass with filet mignon ofr the grill sealed the deal. Truly an great wine. Now I have to wait for the 2019 in my cellar to get there …

Scoring this based on how it is, and not what it should be. This tastes nothing like Cab Franc, and while Del Dotto isn’t a Winery I frequent, there is an easy yummy factor to this. This is pop and pour right now. Nose on this is hedonistic like with ripe and juicy fruits all over the place...raspberry, blackberry, lots of blueberry. Boysenberry. Milk chocolate and nutmeg with sandalwood. At 15.9 ABV, it definitely smells a tad hot. Very agreeable …