The Dalla Valle wines from 2017 are a welcome gift from a vintage that reflects the resilience of Napa Valley. The season began with ample winter rain, but very little rain in spring, which allowed the vines to set a balanced crop with healthy canopies. "In the end, as fruit started coming in, it was apparent that the wines had a focus and acid/tannin balance that would make them very appealing." "The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is blended of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, aged in barrel for 21 months in two-thirds new oak. It was bottled one week prior to this tasting. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with bold, beautiful black fruits—blackcurrant pastilles, plum preserves, and boysenberries—with hints of baker’s chocolate, yeast extract, tapenade, and Indian spices plus a waft of forest floor. Full-bodied, rich and spicy in the mouth, it sports soft, plush, well-played tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and fragrant." Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate