2013 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Family Reserve Centre French Oak Sylvain South Connoisseurs' Series

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve Oakville shows a similar saturated purple color to its siblings. Very earthy, with touches of black olive tapenade, blackberry and cassis, the wine shows slightly more tannin than the Rutherford or Howell Mountain, but is concentrated, full-bodied and truly first-growth quality. This is young and not as sexy and up front as the Rutherford or Howell Mountain, but is locked and loaded with potential. Forget this for 3-4 years and drink it over the following 25 or more years. This is a fabulous effort that will repay cellaring.