2021 DVO Red Wine Napa Valley 750 ml

With a wine like DVO, the winemaking talent on display is obvious—but the real genius of the bottle might be in the composition of the vineyard sources.  Winemakers Maya Dalla Valle and Axel Heinz (who departed Ornellaia for Margaux’s Château Lascombes in 2023) carefully selected fruit from four of Napa Valley's most distinguished vineyards. 

In the southwestern corner of Oakville, Vine Hill Ranch's unique position in the Mayacamas foothills features a complex mixture of gravelly sedimentary soils and volcanic rocks. The vineyard's natural afternoon shade during the warmest hours helps develop fruit with pronounced minerality and tension.

On Oakville’s western slopes, the dramatic Oakville Ranch sits atop an ancient landslide from the Vaca Mountains. Its distinctive terroir is defined by black volcanic rocks and iron-rich andesite, which gives the soil its characteristic red coloration. The powerful, intense fruit from this site forms the backbone of the blend. The historic Collinetta Vineyard, situated in Coombsville's cooler southeastern reaches, experiences the strong maritime influence of the San Pablo Bay. 

Finally, the Cabernet Franc is sourced from high above the fogline in the southern reaches of Howell Mountain AVA, in David Abreu's Las Posadas Vineyard. The location makes for Cab Franc of remarkable depth and structure, thanks to the combination of volcanic white tufa soils, abundant sunshine, and the intense diurnal shifts at altitude.

In the hands of any winemaker, this quartet would produce a stunning wine—though without the influence of DVOs partners, it’s a tall order to get access to even one of these sites. With Heinz and Dalla Valle at the helm, the result is remarkable.