We secured a few special 1.5L bottles from Dalla Valle's cellar, perfect for entertaining those who appreciate great wine. 2018 according to the winemaking team at Dalla Valle was "a dream growing season that brought both abundance and quality to our estate vineyard.” Coming entirely from their estate 20-acre hillside vineyard, which rests at 450 feet in elevation, this 2018 is beautiful and once again, tastes far richer and more polished than its price point. It offers aromas of black fruits, cedar, vanilla bean, and flint. The tannins are fine grained but present, and the mid-palate is silky, generous, and long, with flavors of blueberry, black cherry, and dark chocolate. It is comprised mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon with 27% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot.

Dalla Valle Vineyards, perched 500 feet above the Silverado Trail in Oakville, offers sweeping views of the Napa Valley floor. This extraordinary site, with its red volcanic soil and lingering sunlight, was purchased by Naoko and Gustav Dalla Valle in 1982, just before their daughter Maya was born. Now in her 30s, Maya leads the winemaking, having refined her skills at top Bordeaux estates. Although Dalla Valle has long been a standout, Maya is brilliantly guiding the estate into its next chapter.