In 1999, Dave Del Dotto and his wife founded the Del Dotto Winery and Cave tasting room and by 2007 opened the Del Dotto Venetian Estate to the public. As a tribute to his family’s ancestry, Dave constructed a 16,000 square foot Venetian-styled palace with elaborate detail. Dave continued to acquire prominent vineyard property over the following 25 years. These notable growing regions included Howell Mountain, Spring Mountain, Rutherford, St Helena, Oakville and others.
As is typical with Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignons they are 100% varietals and barrels are single use.

Currently Del Dotto’s acreage consists of 67 acres of vineyards in Napa Valley and 41 acres on the Sonoma Coast along with an expansive portfolio of varietals.

Today, the Del Dotto family owns three locations in Napa Valley; Piazza Del Dotto Winery & Caves, Villa del Lago, and the original Del Dotto Historic Winery on Silverado Trail. The Del Dotto’s offer visitors cave tours along with a barrel tasting of different variations of small lots of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for a fee.

Trying these wines back to back is more of an intellectual experience as you can easily recognize the influence of barrel types on the personality of the wine. This dark garnet wine unveils a bouquet of spring flowers interspersed with baking spices. It is more layered with ripe black plums and dark currants along hints of dusty earth, graphite, anise and espresso. There are hints of crushed minerals and leather buried beneath firm tannins. The complexity of this well-balanced wine is yet to unravel as it will benefit from a few more years in the cellar.

By W Peter Hoyne