Napa Cult Cabernet Collection - 6 Bottles

Dalla Valle History:
In 1992, Robert Parker opined about Dalla Valle Cabernet: “This tiny producer has burst on the scene with some extraordinary wines. This exceptionally strong effort clearly merits buying as futures given the limited production and surprisingly modest prices” in Wine Advocate #81. For perspective, those “modest” priced bottles originally sold for $40 but now trade at over $1,000!

More recently, Parker’s Wine Advocate proclaimed Dalla Valle “is truly one of the most magical vineyards to visit in Napa Valley—poised on a ledge in the Vaca Mountains foothills, just below Ovid on Pritchard Hill and just above the valley floor overlooking Screaming Eagle. Andy Erickson has been winemaker at this estate since 2007 and Michel Rolland is the consultant enologist. Founder/Proprietor Naoko Dalla Valle’s daughter, Maya, has been working closely with Andy Erickson while slowly taking over the reins over the last few years.”

Prior to Erickson, original winemaker Heidi Barrett shared duties at Dalla Valle and Screaming Eagle in the early vintages {not a bad way to spend the day in my opinion!}. The Screaming Eagle connection remains as current winemaker Andy Erickson (crafted the 100 point 2007 Screaming Eagle) works closely with proprietress Naoko Dalla Valle and world-famous wine consultant Michel Rolland. Dalla Valle Cabernets have garnered a whopping twelve 98 - 100 point ratings from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, placing them among the most highly-acclaimed Cabernets on Earth over the last two decades.

Eisele History:
First planted to vines in the 1880s, some of California’s most age worthy and intensely flavored Cabernet Sauvignons have been made from grapes grown at the Eisele Estate vineyard. Joseph Phelps famously released an Eisele Vineyard Cabernet prior to their celebrated Insignia bottling became a collector favorite. In 1990, Daphne and Bart Araujo launched their eponymous wine, now recognized as one of the original five ‘Cult’ Cabernets in Napa Valley. And For the following two decades, they meticulously stewarded the property's potential, bringing it to the status of California “First Growth”. In 2013, this historic vineyard was acquired by the Pinault family and Groupe Artemis, owners of world famous First Growth Chateau Latour in Bordeaux.

The new ownership has brought their centuries of expertise from Bordeaux and has implemented new techniques to continue the world class quality. The production of the Eisele Estate Cabernet has been dramatically reduced so that the ultimate bottlings only include the best of the best rows from this historic vineyard. The initial results have been favorably received by collectors and critics alike, garnering Eisele Estate two “Perfect” 100 point ratings (Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate) for the first vintages fully managed by the Latour team.

*Napa’s original Five Cult Cabernets: Eisele (Araujo) Estate, Colgin, Dalla Valle, Harlan and Screaming Eagle