Dalla Valle


This winery follows in a rather glorious tradition in the wine trade of a strong woman - in this case Naoko Dalla Valle - picking up the reins after the death of a partner and going from strength to strength. She employed a fine viticulturalist who has restored the vineyards and in 2003 helped to produce a wonderful, structured wine, built for the long term and putting on weight all the time. Dalla Valle Vineyards was founded in 1982 by Gustav Dalla Valle (died 1995) and his young wife, Naoko, who continues to own and run the estate. Dalla Valle Vineyards is today recognised as one of the greatest and most sought-after handful of Cabernet Sauvignon producers in California. It is a 26 acre single estate situated on the eastern slopes of Oakville, east of Napa Valley`s Silverado Trail, overlooking Screaming Eagle, Rudd and Opus 1. The soils are volcanic and infertile, and the vines are planted on a south west facing slope to maximise exposure to the long, afternoon sunshine. Since 1995, Mia Klien has been in charge of viticulture and vinification but has now been replaced by Philippe Melka. Yields are controlled to give a yield of just over 2 tons per acre and the fruit is harvested very late, but not over-ripe, and the wine made naturally, with the minimum of intervention. The wine comprises 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. Following tank fermentation the wine undergoes extended maceration of around twenty days followed by maturation in French barriques (50% new) for 20 months. It is bottled without fining or filtration. Maya was not made in 2003 due to an extensive replanting programme

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