Last minute audible..

What started off as a small Maybach tasting ended up as a hangout where more people were invited. It was so hard to focus on the wines at this gathering.

Title says it all.

• 2020 Maybach Family Vineyards Chardonnay Eterium

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Hard to score this at this gathering: the food we had interfered with the flavors a lot, making the wine more pronounced with bitterness. Nose still seemed normal though with deep yellow fruits and a touch of brown toast, which I didn't get this when I first had it back in March.
  
  Flavors were muddled by strong bitterness but there are hints of ripe yellow fruits and some dried straw.

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• 2018 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

  Red fruits on the nose with a bit of brightness, soft earth and dried oak.
  
  Flavors of fresh red fruits, a touch more riper than the nose, with dried earth. Forward fruits but probably needed more time in glass. This strikes a good balanced feel on the palate.

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• 2018 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium 97 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Aromas on the nose brings darker red and black fruits, wet earth, and dark graphite.
  
  Flavors of the dark fruit have much more depth here, showcasing a brooding aspect that I really enjoy. This will need air time if opening now. Tasted this next to the '19 Materium, which initially showed better out the gate. However, this '18 caught up and surpassed the '19. Developed hints of tar that added to intrigue but sadly all of this was mostly gone. Revisit in another year or two. Strong 97+

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• 2019 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Aromas of fresher red fruits, hints of floral add to the youthfulness, and new, dried oak.
  
  The flavors are much more approachable than the '18 Materium at that point in time. The fruits are much more friendly and exuberant. That probably explains why this was the crowd favorite, not mine though. It was the '18 for me. Give this 1-2 more years than its older sibling.

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• 2019 Maître de Chai Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Mountain Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Not your typical Napa cab.. my first impression was something from Spain. A good amount of underbrush and an earthy and barnyard-y(?) funk. If I had this blind, both the nose and palate made me pick Pinot.

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• 2020 Ashford Court Pinot Noir Cotillion 90 Points

  USA, California

  This tastes so similar to the 2019 Maître de Chai cab but this makes way more sense. Aromas of soft red berries, barnyard funk and a bit of leather.
  
  Flavors of light red fruits, similar funk from the nose and some hay.

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• 2018 Flambeaux Cabernet Sauvignon Flambeaux Vineyard 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Aromas and flavors of those long and rectangular creme wafers and sweet red fruits. This tasted nothing like a cab. Good for something to sip on while hanging out. Seems manufactured to please the masses: sweet, not offensive, and easy drinking.
  
  I am sad.

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The '18 Materium was the stand out for me but it took some time to open up. Runner up is the '19 Materium and 3rd is the Amoenus.

Also, pro tip, learn how to say, "no" or "fuck off."