Search Wine Tasting Notes

For a better Search Result, use the Advanced Wine Search. Else, enter the wine name and the vintage if desired, or the region for tasting notes. If you don’t get the result you’re seeking, either we do not have tasting notes on the wine or for that exact year. To help your search results, broaden your search to just the wine name and check for spelling errors. You can sort your results by ratings, vintage or alphabetically.

Dalla%20Valle

23 notes Sort by: Vintage - Name - Rating

2011
88
Medium bodied, with dusty tannins and fresh, bright, red berry character, this will probably age, but it probably lacks the stuffing from the best years to develop a lot of complexity.

Medium bodied, with dusty tannins and fresh, bright, red berry character, this will probably age, but it probably lacks the stuffing from the best years to develop a lot of complexity.

3,105 Views   Tasted
2010
94
Just a gorgeous style of California Cabernet Sauvignon here. The deep, dark fruits are ripe, sweet, supple textured and fresh. The wine has weight, density, complexity and length. Balanced and already open, while this clearly can age for another decade or 2, if you like young wine, it is not a bad thing to pop a cork.

Just a gorgeous style of California Cabernet Sauvignon here. The deep, dark fruits are ripe, sweet, supple textured and fresh. The wine has weight, density, complexity and length. Balanced and already open, while this clearly can age for another decade or 2, if you like young wine, it is not a bad thing to pop a cork.

4,189 Views   Tasted
2009
96
Powerful, rich, concentrated, yet refined in its texture and tannins, the wine is loaded with sweet, ripe black and red fruits, smoke and truffle. Blending 67% Cabernet Sauvignon with 33% Cabernet Franc, like all the great vintages of Maya, this will be better in 10 years, and even better with 20 years of age.

Powerful, rich, concentrated, yet refined in its texture and tannins, the wine is loaded with sweet, ripe black and red fruits, smoke and truffle. Blending 67% Cabernet Sauvignon with 33% Cabernet Franc, like all the great vintages of Maya, this will be better in 10 years, and even better with 20 years of age.

3,760 Views   Tasted
Fresh brewed espresso, licorice, black cherry, smoke and herbal notes create the aromatic display. In the mouth, the full bodied, concentrated wine is soft, round and plush, finishing with chocolate covered, black raspberry and cherry sensations.

Fresh brewed espresso, licorice, black cherry, smoke and herbal notes create the aromatic display. In the mouth, the full bodied, concentrated wine is soft, round and plush, finishing with chocolate covered, black raspberry and cherry sensations.

3,667 Views   Tasted
2009
93
Black and blue fruit, coffee, spice and earthy scents open to a rich, round, sweet, ripe delicious wine that is already a lot of fun to drink.

Black and blue fruit, coffee, spice and earthy scents open to a rich, round, sweet, ripe delicious wine that is already a lot of fun to drink.

4,439 Views   Tasted
2007
94
Deep, dark in hue, with licorice, coffee, jammy blackberry and fresh herb notes in the perfume. Thick, rich, polished and pure, the wine ends with layers of lush, polished, dark, jammy berries.

Deep, dark in hue, with licorice, coffee, jammy blackberry and fresh herb notes in the perfume. Thick, rich, polished and pure, the wine ends with layers of lush, polished, dark, jammy berries.

5,470 Views   Tasted
2005
92
The wine was packed with juicy, fresh blackberry, cassis, earth and vanilla notes. Because this is lighter in style than the wines made a few years earlier, while still young, it's quite nice to drink today.

The wine was packed with juicy, fresh blackberry, cassis, earth and vanilla notes. Because this is lighter in style than the wines made a few years earlier, while still young, it's quite nice to drink today.

5,536 Views   Tasted
2005
97
A super wine, with layers of ripe, sweet, lush, juicy black and blue fruits, silky, polished tannins and a round, sensuous, full bodied, opulent finish. Youthful, but already enjoyable.

A super wine, with layers of ripe, sweet, lush, juicy black and blue fruits, silky, polished tannins and a round, sensuous, full bodied, opulent finish. Youthful, but already enjoyable.

3,092 Views   Tasted
2002
98
This is a wine I seldom get to taste anymore. After tasting this wine, I know what I've been missing out on. This is dense. There is so much fruit, ripe, but powerful tannins, energy freshness, complexity of aromas and length, it was hard to believe. And at close to 14, the wine is still young! If I owned a bottle, I'd give it another 3-5 years before popping one.

This is a wine I seldom get to taste anymore. After tasting this wine, I know what I've been missing out on. This is dense. There is so much fruit, ripe, but powerful tannins, energy freshness, complexity of aromas and length, it was hard to believe. And at close to 14, the wine is still young! If I owned a bottle, I'd give it another 3-5 years before popping one.

3,555 Views   Tasted
2002
92
Licorice, earth, blackberry, earth and black currants open this full bodied, ripe, concentrated California Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine finishes with a big, juicy mouthful of spicy cassis.

Licorice, earth, blackberry, earth and black currants open this full bodied, ripe, concentrated California Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine finishes with a big, juicy mouthful of spicy cassis.

3,635 Views   Tasted
2001
96
Dense and intense, this rich, concentrated, youthful blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc is packed with ripe blackberries, licorice, coffee bean, dark cherry and wet earth. Full bodied and powerful, yet classy and not over the top, this stylish wine can be enjoyed now and for at least another decade or two.

Dense and intense, this rich, concentrated, youthful blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc is packed with ripe blackberries, licorice, coffee bean, dark cherry and wet earth. Full bodied and powerful, yet classy and not over the top, this stylish wine can be enjoyed now and for at least another decade or two.

4,179 Views   Tasted
1999
92
Medium/full-bodied, blending the appearance of ripe and semi-fruit delivers a firm, classicly styled wine with strong nuances of herbs, green leafy notes, tobacco and spearmint. There is some rusticity and dryness in the tannins that make themselves known in the finish. This is unlikely to improve and I suspect that additional time will further erode the fruit.

Medium/full-bodied, blending the appearance of ripe and semi-fruit delivers a firm, classicly styled wine with strong nuances of herbs, green leafy notes, tobacco and spearmint. There is some rusticity and dryness in the tannins that make themselves known in the finish. This is unlikely to improve and I suspect that additional time will further erode the fruit.

3,612 Views   Tasted
1997
100
The first bottle was heat damaged tragically. The second bottle more than made up for it with its attention seeking baked cherry, smoke, caramel, thyme, tobacco and herb nose. Silky, full bodied, lush, sweet, ripe and mouth filling, with true intensity of flavor, this could get even better with a few more years of age.

The first bottle was heat damaged tragically. The second bottle more than made up for it with its attention seeking baked cherry, smoke, caramel, thyme, tobacco and herb nose. Silky, full bodied, lush, sweet, ripe and mouth filling, with true intensity of flavor, this could get even better with a few more years of age.

4,758 Views   Tasted
Black fruit, cassis and a nice touch of oak. Huge wine with immense concentration is made even better with a multi layered, plus texture. An excellent wine produced in a great style.

Black fruit, cassis and a nice touch of oak. Huge wine with immense concentration is made even better with a multi layered, plus texture. An excellent wine produced in a great style.

4,188 Views   Tasted
1997
94
OK, while this is not close to the level of quality found in the sublime Maya, it’s a lot less money! And as you can see, this is super in its right and it’s in the perfect place, if you like fresh, sweet, juicy, ripe fruits, cedar, earth and a blast of cherries in your concentrated, full bodied, deep wine.

OK, while this is not close to the level of quality found in the sublime Maya, it’s a lot less money! And as you can see, this is super in its right and it’s in the perfect place, if you like fresh, sweet, juicy, ripe fruits, cedar, earth and a blast of cherries in your concentrated, full bodied, deep wine.

3,406 Views   Tasted
1996
97
Massive, powerful, youthful and dense, yet it's also fresh, long and pretty in its nose and finish. There is great concentration with density of flavor and a strong sense of purity of fruit that really shines.

Massive, powerful, youthful and dense, yet it's also fresh, long and pretty in its nose and finish. There is great concentration with density of flavor and a strong sense of purity of fruit that really shines.

3,568 Views   Tasted
1995
95
Smoke, licorice, incense, barbecue, and fresh dark red fruit aromatics open to a silky, polished, sweet, long, fresh, pure, dark cherry finish.

Smoke, licorice, incense, barbecue, and fresh dark red fruit aromatics open to a silky, polished, sweet, long, fresh, pure, dark cherry finish.

4,205 Views   Tasted
1994
97
Fully developed and ready to go, the nose, with its tobacco, cedar, leaf, mint, flower, red and black pit fruit scents starts everything off nicely. The wine is full-bodied, powerful and rich as well as lushly textured. The ripe, dark red berries coat your palate with ample length and fabulous complexity. This is clearly in its prime-time drinking window.

Fully developed and ready to go, the nose, with its tobacco, cedar, leaf, mint, flower, red and black pit fruit scents starts everything off nicely. The wine is full-bodied, powerful and rich as well as lushly textured. The ripe, dark red berries coat your palate with ample length and fabulous complexity. This is clearly in its prime-time drinking window.

3,499 Views   Tasted
Beautiful wine in every way. Big, bold, concentrated and balanced, the massive amount of fruit was ripe, complex and sweet. The tannins were polished and the finish was long. Very stylish.

Beautiful wine in every way. Big, bold, concentrated and balanced, the massive amount of fruit was ripe, complex and sweet. The tannins were polished and the finish was long. Very stylish.

4,492 Views   Tasted
The nose explodes with flowers, licorice, toast, truffle, cherry, Asian spice and black raspberry aromatics. There is a beautiful sense of purity of fruit revealed in the long, sweet, opulent finish. A lot of expensive California Cabernet Sauvignon wines are not worth the price of the ticket. This one is.

The nose explodes with flowers, licorice, toast, truffle, cherry, Asian spice and black raspberry aromatics. There is a beautiful sense of purity of fruit revealed in the long, sweet, opulent finish. A lot of expensive California Cabernet Sauvignon wines are not worth the price of the ticket. This one is.

5,429 Views   Tasted
What more could you ask for in a California wine, or a wine from anywhere? Incredible levels of concentrated ripe dark berries, spice, chocolate, herbs and fennel. Dense and full bodied, this wine is packed and stacked with perfectly ripe fruit.

What more could you ask for in a California wine, or a wine from anywhere? Incredible levels of concentrated ripe dark berries, spice, chocolate, herbs and fennel. Dense and full bodied, this wine is packed and stacked with perfectly ripe fruit.

4,377 Views   Tasted
1994
95
Spice box, cassis and blackberry notes in the perfume are followed by a dense, concentrated, smooth, long, wave of fresh, sweet cassis and blackberries that really makes an impression.

Spice box, cassis and blackberry notes in the perfume are followed by a dense, concentrated, smooth, long, wave of fresh, sweet cassis and blackberries that really makes an impression.

3,442 Views   Tasted
Generous amounts of dense, ripe black fruit in a great style. This is an ager

Generous amounts of dense, ripe black fruit in a great style. This is an ager

2,658 Views   Tasted
1993
91
Not as good as it should have been. This rustic slant and green flavors were too much for this wine.

Not as good as it should have been. This rustic slant and green flavors were too much for this wine.

2,644 Views   Tasted
1993
91
At 20 years of age, this is showing perfectly. Truffle, tobacco, earth and fresh black cherries open with no effort. Soft in texture, medium bodied and open, this is probably drinking at its peak.

At 20 years of age, this is showing perfectly. Truffle, tobacco, earth and fresh black cherries open with no effort. Soft in texture, medium bodied and open, this is probably drinking at its peak.

4,014 Views   Tasted
1992
100
Breathtaking in every sense of the word! The wine is incredibly dense, concentrated, and palate staining. Yet, it is simultaneously rich, polished, velvet-textured, and fresh. Everything here is in perfect balance. The wine is seamless from the start through to the 60 second or longer, finish. This is one of the high-end wines that deliver a fair rate of return for the high price. No decanting is needed. If you have a bottle, pop a cork.

Breathtaking in every sense of the word! The wine is incredibly dense, concentrated, and palate staining. Yet, it is simultaneously rich, polished, velvet-textured, and fresh. Everything here is in perfect balance. The wine is seamless from the start through to the 60 second or longer, finish. This is one of the high-end wines that deliver a fair rate of return for the high price. No decanting is needed. If you have a bottle, pop a cork.

3,777 Views   Tasted
Cleary, this is not a wine for everyone. It's extremely ripe, with notes of over ripe fruit, raisins and figs. This is so concentrated, you can eat it, if you prefer your wine with a spoon. This is unique in style and some tasters are going to be blown away by the wine, while others are not going to finish their glass.

Cleary, this is not a wine for everyone. It's extremely ripe, with notes of over ripe fruit, raisins and figs. This is so concentrated, you can eat it, if you prefer your wine with a spoon. This is unique in style and some tasters are going to be blown away by the wine, while others are not going to finish their glass.

3,410 Views   Tasted
Layers of black fruit seem to last forever. This is a huge, very concentrated wine that continued evolving in the glass. This was a pleasure and a privilege to taste.

Layers of black fruit seem to last forever. This is a huge, very concentrated wine that continued evolving in the glass. This was a pleasure and a privilege to taste.

5,159 Views   Tasted
Deep, concentrated, full bodied and tannic. Cassis, blackberry, licorice and earthy scents were easy to locate. The concentrated wine is round, soft and complex.

Deep, concentrated, full bodied and tannic. Cassis, blackberry, licorice and earthy scents were easy to locate. The concentrated wine is round, soft and complex.

4,300 Views   Tasted
1991
93
1991 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon is stuffed with black raspberry, tobacco, earth, cassis, espresso and cigar ash. From a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot, this powerful wine has years to go.

1991 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon is stuffed with black raspberry, tobacco, earth, cassis, espresso and cigar ash. From a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot, this powerful wine has years to go.

3,245 Views   Tasted
1991
95
Coconut, coffee bean, smoke, licorice, earth and ripe blackberries with dark cherries to round it out, the wine is juicy, rich, ripe and full bodied. Produced in a style that grabs the middle ground between ripe, modernity and classic, there is a lot to like about the wine.

Coconut, coffee bean, smoke, licorice, earth and ripe blackberries with dark cherries to round it out, the wine is juicy, rich, ripe and full bodied. Produced in a style that grabs the middle ground between ripe, modernity and classic, there is a lot to like about the wine.

4,440 Views   Tasted
1990
95
Very bright, fresh and floral, the wine is not a blockbuster. It is balanced, lifted, complex and nuanced. Fully developed, with leafy, herbal, mint and floral nuances that mesh perfectly with all the ripe, energetic fruits, this is drinking just great today.

Very bright, fresh and floral, the wine is not a blockbuster. It is balanced, lifted, complex and nuanced. Fully developed, with leafy, herbal, mint and floral nuances that mesh perfectly with all the ripe, energetic fruits, this is drinking just great today.

4,039 Views   Tasted