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Del Dotto Vineyards is a small, family owned winery
located in beautiful Napa Valley that has been making
small production premium wines for over 10 years.
The Del Dotto’s have acquired vineyards located
in some of the best spots for growing grapes: Rutherford
Bench, St. Helena Appellation, Howell Mountain and
Sonoma Coast. They currently make Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese along with Pinot
Noir from the Sonoma Coast and will soon be making
Chardonnay as well.
The Del
Dotto family opened up their ancient caves, hand dug
in 1885, to the public and decided to host extensive
barrel tasting tours to help educate wine lovers around
the world about Oak Barrels. Dave Del Dotto started
an educational program teaching wine consumers how
the barrels affect the wine and have been experimenting
with over 40 different barrels from various Coopers
from France, America and Russia.
In
just a few years they have become one of Napa Valley’s
hot spots! They have become the only winery to bottle
wines directly out of individual French and American
oak barrels. Del Dotto continues to experiment with
ancient winemaking techniques with an ultimate goal:
To make great wines that will bring people together
to enjoy life with family and friends!
The Del
Dotto’s vineyards consist of seven specially
selected sites consisting of 400 acres with 96 planted.
With varietals including: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Sangiovese.
It took 18 years to find the ideal sites for the selected
clones to maximize the terroir flavors in the wine.
Each vineyard is organically farmed. This includes
weeding by hand, no sprays or chemical fertilizers.
The plants are meticulously tended by professional
vineyard workers with love.
Our original
Estate vineyard consisting of 12 acres replanted in
1990 with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
and Sangiovese. Our first release from our Estate
vineyard was our 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon. In, 1995
we introduced our Giovanni’s Tuscan Reserve
a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, Super
Tuscan style Cabernet. 1997, was the first year we
made a 100% Merlot and 100% Cabernet Franc in very
limited amounts. We then went on in 1998 to produce
our first 100% Sangiovese as well. All, of these wines
are made each year in very limited amounts.
A new vineyard
located on the south end of the St. Helena Appellation,
which consists of 9 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, planted
in 2000. This vineyard releases the typical St. Helena
appellation characteristics of lush fruity berries,
easily accessible tannins on the palate with a dry
finish. Our first release from this vineyard will
be the 2004 vintage available in Fall 2006.
This is
also a new vineyard located in the Howell Mountain
appellation, which consists of 10 acres planted with
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. This
vineyard is a mountain vineyard grown at 1400 foot
elevation in white chalk. The clones were transplanted
from the Del Dotto Estate Rutherford vineyard. The
wine presents a massive, rich, full bodied, mouth
feel with an earthy chocolate finish Truly a great
wine that highlights the terroir. It has already received
rave reviews by wine critics as one of the top Cabernets
in the world. Available to VIP members only in limited
quantities.
Also
another new vineyard nestled against the Mayacamas
Mountains on the west side of St. Helena with10 acres
of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine produced from this
vineyard exudes creamy, vanilla bean characteristics
along with silky tannins and a long finish. Our first
release from this vineyard will be the 2004 vintage
available in Fall 2006.
This
outstanding vineyard was purchased in 2005 consisting
of 359 acres at the top of King Ridge on the Sonoma
Coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This is where
some of the best vineyards in the world for growing
Pinot are! We named it “Cinghiale Vineyard”,
Italian for wild boar. W. H. Smith, the previous owner
received a 97 rating on his 2003 Pinot from the Wine
Spectator on the vineyard, the highest rating for
an American Pinot in 2003. There were 12.5 acres of
Pinot Noir planted already and 30 more recently planted.
We have also grafted over 2 acres of Chardonnay to
be made in 2006. Look for the 2005 vintage it is spectacular
and is to be release Winter 2006.
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