One of the best Sauvignons of this or any vintage, a brilliant and evocative wine of great style and flair. Powerfully dry, with citrus, fig, apple and peppery spice flavors and a lush overlay of oak. Compelling for its intensity and complexity.
— S.H.
(12/15/2004)
You could enjoy this Chardonnay now, because it has lush pineapple, pear and mineral flavors, and smoky oak adds delicious notes of vanilla, honey and buttered toast. Yet it’s a tight wine, with searing acidity. One of the few California Chardonnays that needs age, it will come into its own after 2012.
— S.H.
(12/31/2009)
A bit ungainly now, with massive red and black cherry flavors that burst out in jammy richness. But this is Mayacamas, whose Cabernets are built to last. The tannins are fierce, the acids entirely adequate to protect this wine through 2012, when it should begin to develop bottle character.
— S.H.
(12/31/2009)
Offering none of the oaky, fruity richness of popular Chardonnays, this bottle needs to be figured out in a different way. It’s super-dry, acidic and minerally, with citrus fruit flavors that seem barely touched by oak. It’s a wine of structural integrity, made in the style of a great Chablis. One of the rare Chardonnays that should age.
— S.H.
(8/1/2010)
A terrific Sauvignon Blanc, this is Mayacamas’s best in years. Bone dry and rich in mouthwatering acidity, it shows subtle layers of lemons, limes, oranges and spices, with a bitter grassiness that gives it a perfect bite.
— S.H.
(9/1/2012)
Most California Merlots won’t age well, but this one should. It’s tightly wound with acids and tannins; it’s bone dry, with a controlled expression of cherries, blackberries and minerals. Give it a spin in the cellar for five years.
— S.H.
(8/1/2012)
This Cabernet is not providing much pleasure now. Bone dry and hard in tannins and acids, it’s aloof to the point of unfriendly. But there are lots of blackberries packed inside. Give it at least 8 years in the cellar.
— S.H.
(12/15/2010)
Lots of dry elegance in this wine. It’s also more acidic than your typical Napa Cabernet, with a tart bite. The tannins are young and forceful, and the finish is totally dry. As presently constituted, it’s somewhat tough and lean. But the core of cherries and blackberries suggests some degree of ageabilty. Hold until 2015.
— S.H.
(12/31/2011)