Mayacamas, which is translated as title of the mountain lion, is one amongst Napa’s true star wineries, making wines that current why Napa is a essential place for good wine. They haven’t gone down the path of choosing late to get additional power and flavour, nor have they embellished the wines with new oak. These are right mountain wines which have development and steadiness, and good ageing potential.
Some historic previous. The property was owned by a couple of Catholic households all through prohibition, and it was solely inside the Nineteen Forties that it turned what it is now. The Taylor family bought it in 1941, obtained cuttings from Wente and planted Chardonnay. For a while, this was the one actual focus of Mayacamas. The Taylors purchased it in 1968 and it was bought by Bob Travers. He was a finance man from San Francisco who had accomplished two harvests at Heitz Cellars, with Bob Courses. The two Bobs made the 1971 basic at Mayacamas, and from 1972 Bob Travers was on his private.
I first visited once more in September 2015, when the vineyards have been being remodelled and replanted, after a change in possession. My second go to was in July 2024, when the model new plantings have been completely established. In between, in 2017, they’d had some fires on the property and say they’ve been lucky that the winery didn’t burn down.
Mayacamas is in Mount Veeder, which is a extremely fascinating sub-appellation of Napa at 1850 toes, with the vineyards going as a lot as 2450 toes. A fundamental Veeder day all through the summer season season might be 10 ranges (F) cooler than the first valley floor. Acids and tannins are a attribute of the crimson wines. The positioning is an earlier volcanic crater, and you might even see this from the winery. The soils are volcanic in nature, with texture ranging from delicate cobbled ash to basaltic cobbles, and there’s some selection inside the soil profiles all through the property. 60% is dry farmed (beforehand the complete vineyard was, nonetheless some plots revenue from a bit little bit of irrigation).
Bob Travers made the wines proper right here for 45 years, and importantly, saved points the equivalent. He retired in 2013 on the age of 74. Bob’s wines have been good, nonetheless for a while the market was chasing ripeness and extraction, with easy tannins. Fortuitously, the market is now coming once more to any such wine. Bob’s technique was to decide on early, ferment quickly and by no means messing spherical with an extreme quantity of latest oak. Bob retired in 2012, and acquired to a consortium in 2013 that included Charles Banks and the Schottenstein family (they’re now sole householders since Banks had a four-year jail sentence for fraud). The Schottensteins have numerous enterprise pursuits, and private DSW and American Eagle. Joey Schottenstein is a big wine collector.
The property is 475 acres and had 52 acres beneath vine when it was purchased, numerous which needed replanting. In 2013 the 52 acres yielded merely 18 tons of grapes, so one factor needed to be accomplished. In 2014 they took out a lot of the vineyard, and this yr (2024) was the first time the complete vineyard was once more on-line. The replanting was accomplished with American heritage clones, and the vineyard is now one-third Chardonnay and two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, nonetheless with some Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Grenache Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Aligoté, too. There are some terraces proper right here, which now often are usually not allowed because of the tendency for erosion, till they’re grandfathered in.
Mayacamas has on no account been 100% property: Bob would buy in several grapes. From 2013 it has merely been Mount Veeder grapes, though, to guard the mountain character of the wines.
The target of the current winemaking crew is to not change the sort, nonetheless to dry to try this increased, and the wines. The winery has modified a bit since I visited ultimate, nonetheless not dramatically. Just a few of the older picket tanks have gone, nonetheless nonetheless the elevage for the Cabernet Sauvignon is 2 years in large format oak adopted by 10-12 months in 225 or 500 litre barrels.
I visited with Cathy Cohn, director of world product sales, and winemaker Braidon Albrecht, who joined proper right here in 2013. He’d labored with Phil Coturri, vineyard supervisor, sooner than.
THE WINES
Mayacamas Grenache Rosé 2023 Napa, California
That is seemingly one of many kosher wines. Direct pressed Grenach harvested for rosé. Pale in shade, it’s a fairly dry kind with a crystalline edge to the citrus and pear fruit, with a contact of cherry. Good weight inside the mouth, ending vibrant and crucial. 92/100
Mayacamas Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Napa, California
One different Kosher wine. 13 1/3% alcohol on the label: they’re grandfathered in to do the fractions. Juicy and mineral with fairly depth to the grassy, stony fruit with good acidity. It’s juicy and linear with good precision exhibiting a mineral twist to the pure fruit. 92/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Chardonnay 2022 Napa, California
About half private property (Gate Block and Hill Block) and the rest from a 1975 vineyard dry farmed, Wente Clone, on Mount Veeder. No malolactic, aged in blended sizes of used barrels. So textural and good with pure citrus fruit along with refined toast and spice, with some pear and aniseed. Very good and detailed with fairly precision and purity. Should age brilliantly. 95/100
Mayacamas Hill Block Chardonnay 2021 Napa, California
13% alcohol. There’s some mint and bay proper right here with intriguing pure factor along with pure citrus fruit. Good acidity with a core of citrus and some fascinating pure and tangerine factor. Very expressive and complicated, with the potential to age somewhat nicely, exhibiting depth however moreover delicacy. 96/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Chardonnay 2001 Napa, California
Gold in shade. Honey, nuts and spice on the nostril with some waxy notes. The palate is linear and crystalline with a stony undercurrent and notes of peach, pear and spice. Such complexity proper right here with freshness and focus. Beautiful wine, maturing correctly. 95/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Chardonnay 1996 Napa, California
Full gold in shade. Daring and rich with some toastiness and notes of honey and nuts, nonetheless nonetheless so latest with fairly crystalline fruit. Has citrus and some apple and spice. That’s nice, and nonetheless full of energy. 95/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Chardonnay 1989 Napa, California
Full golden shade. Rich, toasty, peachy nostril with some honey. The palate is concentrated with notes of marzipan and honey, with toast and peach fruit. Such factor proper right here: it’s exhibiting evolution nonetheless has this gorgeous crystalline acidity and spicy complexity. Superior nonetheless nonetheless pure. 95/100
Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2023 (sample)
That’s second leaf, and is a cask sample. Vibrant and expressive with good sweet cherry and plum fruit, some spices and a contact of inexperienced (that’s good). Ripe and expressive with fairly sweetness to the fruit.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (Sunset Block) sample
Dense, structured nonetheless with fairly sweet fruit. Good depth and depth proper right here with some black cherry and plum character along with blackcurrant. Fruit-driven and structured with good precision.
Mayacamas Mt, Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Napa, California
Youthful, compressed and crucial with a gorgeous focus of blackcurrant fruit. Rich and layered. There’s a sweet core of fruit proper right here, with good texture and stress. Ripe and delicious, nonetheless there’s substantial development beneath the sweet fruit. A beautiful wine with a protracted life ahead of it. 95/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Napa, California
14% alcohol. Current launch. Beautiful aromatics with such latest, elegant blackcurrant fruit, and notes of garrigue-like herbs and black tea and olives. The palate is okay and classy with a core of sweet blackcurrant fruit with good grip. It’s structured nonetheless really elegant with a twist of minty herbiness and a core of silky fashionable blackcurrant fruit. Approachable now nonetheless with quite a bit additional to ship. Very good grained. 96/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Napa, California
Easy nonetheless latest blackcurrant fruit nostril. Good development on the palate: ripe nonetheless restrained with good development and good acidity. This has good precision. It’s nonetheless youthful nonetheless has great potential. 96/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Napa, California
That’s the ultimate yr completely made by Bob on the winery. Latest and floral with good brightness, and a core of sweet berry and blackcurrant fruit. Latest and supple with good weight and some richness, however moreover brightness and delicacy. Such finesse and purity proper right here, with a lightness of being. 95/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Napa, California
A library launch for this fall, which is able to seemingly be launched alongside the 2020. Difficult herbs proper right here: mint, bay and olive with company tannins sitting beneath the green-tinged blackcurrant fruit. It’s concentrated with good acidity and some company development, nonetheless the dominant attribute is the distinctive pure character: very garrigue like. Nonetheless youthful and company with a protracted technique to go! 97/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Napa, California
A warmth yr. Ripe and dense with a contact of mint and concentrated blackcurrant fruit, along with some earthy notes inside the background. This has good grip with good density and richness. 94/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 (magnum solely, shortly to be launched)
13.5% alcohol. Beautiful brooding nostril of blackcurrant and good spices, with a contact of tar, nonetheless although there’s a bit little bit of evolution there’s nonetheless brightness and freshness. The palate is concentrated, brooding and structured with some richness however moreover some freshness. Nonetheless pretty youthful with immense focus. Dried herbs, company tannins. It has hints of excessive Bordeaux however moreover hints of excessive Barolo. Distinctive. 97/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 Napa, California
12.5% alcohol. From half bottle. Difficult and tightwound with mint, herbs and spice, exhibiting olive, wild herbs and taut blackcurrant fruit. This has good acidity. It has developed with good enchancment, exhibiting fairly spicy factor. Blackcurrant, black cherry and dried herbs, with a slight saltiness to the tip. Stunning stuff, with savouriness along with sweet fruit. 96/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 Napa, California
So youthful and pleasant. Floral aromatics with cherries and plums along with some gravelly depth. Stunning cope with the palate with good acidity beneath the sweet blackcurrant and cherry fruit. Juicy nonetheless exhibiting good depth. Tart, crunchy and structured, and pretty nice. 97/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 1993 Napa, California
12.5% alcohol. Splendidly sophisticated with warmth herbs, spice and some earthiness. Pretty savoury with some animal shed inside the background. The palate is mellow, earthy and complicated with sweet berries and cherries, and a contact of spice. Some blackcurrant fruit left, with good warmth. That’s ingesting beautifully now and has an precise depth to it. Possibly one for ingesting shortly. 95/100
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 1986 Napa, California
That’s nonetheless focused and up to date with some crimson cherry and cranberry character, along with good spices and solely a hint of earth. There are some mature notes of autumn leaves. Supple and good with great precision and factor, that may be a stylish wine that is beginning to drink somewhat nicely. 96/100
Older notes:
Mayacamas Chardonnay 2019 Napa, California
Fantastic, spicy and mealy on the nostril with brightness and texture. Mineral and good with some salinity and good depth. This has a gorgeous texture with a barely salty finish. Very good and expressive, and by no means heavy. 95/100 (06/23)
Mayacamas Chardonnay 2013 Napa, California
Very pure and up to date with fairly focus to the citrus and pear fruit. Very good and expressive: seamless nonetheless vibrant with fairly purity. Stunning finesse to this wine. 94/100 (tasted 09/15)
Mayacamas Chardonnay 2008 Napa, California
Stunning good toast, fennel and pear nostril. Fantastic, subtly nutty, pithy citrus palate exhibiting good pear and fennel notes. Difficult and beguiling and exhibiting good precision. 94/100 (09/15)
Mayacamas Chardonnay 2000 Napa, California
Full yellow shade with hints of mint and toast, and some pear. Difficult, broad however good on the palate with refined toast and great linear pear and citrus fruit. Mineral and good, exhibiting gorgeous evolution. 95/100 (09/15)
Maycamas Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Napa, California
Delicate chalky, minty edge to the pure crimson and black fruits nostril. Brooding, latest and actual. The palate is so latest and linear with fairly purity to the black fruits, exhibiting good acid and tannin. Such finesse proper right here: linear and floral. 95/100 (09/15)
Maycamas Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Napa, California
Very vibrant and up to date with fairly pure blackcurrant fruit. Linear and pure with vibrant fruit and good development. Taut and expressive exhibiting fairly precision. 96/100 (09/15)
Maycamas Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Napa, California
That’s exhibiting some evolution, with savoury earthy spicy notes and some good herbs. Black fruits with some good acidity, along with hints of earth and mint, with grippy tannins. So expressive and pretty fairly. 95/100 (09/15)
Maycamas Cabernet Sauvignon 1990 Napa, California
Aromatic and developed, and subtly malty and savoury on the nostril. The palate though is principally latest with cherry and plum fruit and good acidity. Truly elegant and pretty gorgeous, and completely mature. 94/100 (09/15)
elegant and pretty gorgeous, and completely mature. 94/100
Availability inside the UK: Roberson Wine