The 2020 DVO is the third release from the prestigious partnership between Dalla Valle Vineyards and Ornellaia. Despite Napa's difficult 2020 vintage, this was considered one of the year's standouts. The blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, aged about 22–23 months in French oak, 60% new.
Professional Ratings
| Critic |
Rating |
| Decanter |
⭐ 97 points |
| Wine Advocate |
96+ points |
| Jeb Dunnuck |
95 points |
| James Suckling |
95 points |
| Wine Spectator |
93 points |
| Vinous |
92 points |
Decanter rated it 97 points, calling it one of the standout wines of the vintage and praising its combination of density, freshness and fine-grained tannins.
Wine Advocate – 96+: Blueberry, black cherry and cassis meet cedar. Full-bodied and creamy in texture, with ripe tannins and an exceptionally elegant, lingering finish. Production was just 300 cases.
Jeb Dunnuck – 95: Cassis, dark currants, spicy oak and chocolate, with excellent purity and elegance. Concentrated and textured, with enough structure for roughly two decades of development.
James Suckling – 95: Blackcurrant, blueberry and pencil-shaving notes with silky, fine tannins and a fresh, flavorful finish.
Tasting Profile
Nose: Blackberry, cassis, blueberry and black cherry with graphite, cedar, leather, baking spice and subtle chocolate.
Palate: Medium-to-full bodied and concentrated, yet unusually graceful. Dark fruit is supported by silky tannins, fresh acidity and graphite-like minerality, with herbs, earth and mocha adding complexity.
Finish: Long and elegant, with lingering cassis, mocha, cedar, spice and savory mineral notes.
Sommelier’s Take
The 2020 doesn't have quite the extraordinary critical firepower of the 99-point 2019 DVO, but it is remarkably successful for its challenging vintage. It leans toward elegance, freshness and finesse rather than sheer power, making it a particularly interesting expression of this Dalla Valle–Ornellaia collaboration.
