Great aromas of charcoal, grilled herb and currant paste, this is richly layered, with fig, loam and tar flavors. Long, smoky finish still has plenty of grip too. Drink now through 2012. 95 points.

[Note: Wine not tasted blind, this is an unofficial review.]

This is my favorite Dalla Valle spanning about 10 vintages.Fortunate to have five left.

Just what is an "unoffical review"?

Pippen next month I am going to be flying into Sacramento then heading to napa valley. How far of a drive is it would you say from Sacramento to Napa valley?

quote:

Just what is an "unoffical review"?

It's "unofficial" because James covers RHONE wines.

TERPS

Once you have your rental car, it is an easy one hour & fifteen minutes to the City of Napa and then fifteen minutes to Rutherford/Oakville and an additional fifteen minutes to Calistoga.

Great Pippin thanks for the info!!

Just pulled my last bottle of this also, to drink along side the 1997 Etude Cab..

Really dark and still brawny, with plum sauce, currant paste, fig and loam followed by a structured finish that's saturated with dark fruit. Classic Napa Cab for me, and should hold here for another 5 years (assuming proper storage of course)...95 points.

[Note: Unofficial review, not tasted blind.]