Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The virtually perfect 1999 Maya is a wine of stupendous unctuosity, richness, fruit, and elegance. It is remarkable that the Cabernet Franc grown in these red volcanic soils can produce wines of such intensity as well as elegance. Notes of cassis, blueberries, blackberries, espresso, smoke, earth, and vanilla are offered in a full-bodied, profoundly concentrated and layered style. For whatever reason, the 1999 Maya revealed more forwardness than the Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee.
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Wine Spectator
Massive and concentrated, if a bit angular and tightly wound, with chewy, chunky leather, pencil lead, currant and herbal flavors that are framed by rugged tannins. Needs time to soften the tough edges, but all the ingredients are there for greatness. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.