Winemaker Notes
The Mayacamas Vineyards Special Bottling Series showcases small lots with unique characteristics and stories. The idea for the series came about as a way to truly highlight the singular terroir of the Estate. Carved out this rocky and steep forest landscape, each vineyard contributes a distinct signature to the core bottlings of Mayacamas. Due to the diverse soil profiles, microclimates and extreme exposures, each growing season may result in a certain exposure, block, or fermentation to stand out among the rest. The Special Bottling Series is an opportunity to capture that unique expression and share it. Over time these small bottlings will help tell Mayacamas Vineyards story of place.
The Top Block is one of the highest vineyard sights at Mayacamas, positioned on a slope of volcanic cobbles on the ridge of Mt. Veeder. It's full sunlight exposure and warm rocky soils result in long growing days, intense fruit and structured, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Top Block is one of the small single-block bottlings Mayacamas has begun to offer in recent years. It marries the natural opulence of the vintage with a good deal of freshness to balance things out. Bright acids and fine, pulsating tannins give the Top Block quite a bit of energy. Dark red fruit, pomegranate, mint, white pepper, dried herbs and crushed rocks lend vibrancy throughout. The 2019 is shaping up to be magnificent. I very much like the energy here.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Centered at the peak for which it is named, Mount Veeder is Napa’s largest sub-AVA. But even though the entire appellation spreads over 16,000 acres, vineyards cover a mere 1,000. Scattered among Douglas firs and bristlecone pines, Mount Veeder vineyards extend south from the upper elevations of the Mayacamas Mountains—the highest point at 2,400 feet—to the border of the Carneros region. Less than 25 wineries produce wine from Mount Veeder fruit.
Winemaking began early in this appellation. In 1864, Captain Stelham Wing presented the first Mount Veeder wine to the Napa County Fair; it came from today’s Wing Canyon Vineyard. Prohibition, of course, halted winemaking and viticulture wasn’t revitalized until the founding of Mayacamas Vineyards in 1951 and Bernstein Vineyards in 1964.
The Bernstein Vineyards was actually home to the first Petit Verdot in California, planted in 1975. Today most of the Petit Verdot in Napa Valley originates from this vineyard.
Rocky volcanic clay and ancient seabed matter dominate Mount Veeder soils—perfect for Bordeaux varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot enjoy spectacular success. These varieties produce wines rich in brambly blackberry and black cherry fruit with herbal and floral aromatics. Structures are moderate to assertive and wines have great staying power.
Chardonnay from Mount Veeder is lush, full and balanced mineral and fresh citrus flavors.