Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A dark, rich, enormously complex and concentrated wine, with plush black cherry and blackberry fruit that's beautifully balanced. Gains richness and surges on the finish, where the tannins coat the palate, picking up a trace of mocha. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2000 Maya (a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc) is a medium-weight, elegant effort displaying spice box, incense, loamy soil, dried herb, creme de cassis, and smoky oak characteristics.
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.