Nestled high up in an isolated postion on Mount Veeder, the Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon sits as a reference point for the Napa Valley.
The ethos here has remained remarkably consistent and authentic through the years, avoiding the overtly ripe and lavishly oaked wines so often attributed to the Napa region. Make no mistake, this is dense Mountain Cabernet built for the long haul, but there’s a nerve to the wines here, and a translucency of site and varietal. A point of difference.
In 1968 the estate was sold to Bob Travers, the owner and winemaker until 2013. It was Travers who created the style that Mayacamas is recognized for today, including the 1971 Cabernet Sauvignon which featured in the famed Judgement of Paris tasting of 1976. Today, it is run by the Schottenstein family with winemaker Braiden Albrecht, who stay true to the work of Travers.
Their 12 Cabernet Sauvignon blocks are spread across the 475-acre Estate at elevations ranging from 550m to 650m above sea level. There are numerous soil profiles across these blocks, including compressed volcanic ash, fractured volcanic cobbles, gravelly loam, and cobbled clay. The rugged topography and intense exposure result in multiple microclimates where Cabernet Sauvignon can develop a range of flavor profiles. Keeping with tradition, the plantings are dominated by California heritage clonal selection – including from Sees, Martha’s, Niebaum, Martini and the Mayacamas house clone. The vineyards have been farmed organically since 2013.
The wine is matured for 24 months in large format foudre. These are well seasoned, with some vessels approaching 100 years age. The wine is then transferred to smaller barrels for a further 12 month maturation (around 10% new) ahead of bottling.
The resulting wine is silky and beautifully perfumed. Bags of depth and a tannin structure to support decades of ageing.
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