April 13, 2024 - I was not a fan of this particular bottle for the price. Expected much more based on other reviews. I’m afraid there was a storage issue along the way. This was received by a local bottle shop with a decent wine selection in 2023 for what I assume was a 20-year re-release through various distribution channels. It honestly had the taste and mouthfeel of a Pinot Noir, very acidic, which leads me to believe it may have been exposed to excessive temperatures in transit. It was also stored upright in the store’s temperature-controlled wine cellar, as I had eyed it over the past several months.
February 28, 2024 - Corked
February 12, 2024 - Ha! Smells like an old Barossa Cabernet; dried out and raisined fruit, sweet spice, good quality oak also offers caramel, there is also a little sous bois, leather and blackcurrant here as well. Sour acid is mouth watering and contradicts the nose, drying tannins are leathery, coarse flour textured, a whisper of dilute fruit juice on the mid palate. Nah.
June 10, 2023 - Double decanted for sediment and some air. Consumed over three hours or so. Secondary flavors all around. But still tart cherry so good acid balance. Glad to pop this now but it could go for another 5 years.
June 3, 2023 - Le vin du voyage, on y replonge le nez, enivrant, terreux, fruite rouge, belle finale, excellent
May 26, 2023 - 3 hour decant. Still very youthful. By looking at it would have never guessed this was 20 years old. Very fresh. Started with tart cherry, high acid and tannin which integrated as the night went on. Bottle continued to evolve throughout the evening. Eucalyptus and dark cherry on the nose. Wonderfully long finish with cherry and butterscotch notes. Great with a filet. This wine has a long life ahead of it.
March 5, 2023 - Deep ruby color; very pronounced, developing aromas of cassis, dark cherry, sour cherry, asparagus, mint, dried rose petal, tobacco, violet; full body, med alcohol, high acid, high tannins; floral and youthful with quite a bit of dried fruits; very Bordeaux-like for Napa in terms of structure but comes with that sour cherry note typically found in Napa Cab.
The guy at the tasting room said he doesn’t think it would improve anymore, which was to my surprise, because it even has tannins which needs to still mellow in my opinion. So hard to comment on this wine’s ageability.
January 27, 2023 - Great wine, but can still use time. Decanted for two hours before the first pour. Tasted better after hour three. The tannins subside a good bit, but still heavy acid present (to be expected with Mayacamas and I view as a good thing). I think another five years would put this in a perfect balance. Restrained with notes of dark cherry, and raspbery. I catch a small hint of vanilla on the finish that I believe could come forward more in the future and will achieve complete balance. I really enjoyed drinking it now and have no regrets, but can definitely see the payoff in 2028.
January 23, 2023 - Forest floor, gamy, black olive, dark cherry, blackberry, Smoke. Reminds me of high quality old Bordeaux. Impeccable balance, great complexity, Pronounced flavour intensity, long finish with cherry fruit lingering. The wine of the night! Charming, seducing and make me keep going back to it. Outstanding wine. Generally I find Mayacamas cab require long ageing to reach its optimal drinking window.
October 29, 2022 - Based on previous notes, decanted for five hours. Taste from bottle was still quite tannic, but with 5 hour decant the tannins largely resolved into a more integrated wine. Still very young looking, with no noticeable bricking. Fruit was dark cherry to blackberry. Evolved in the glass over the two hours we drank it. Classic Mayacamas/Napa Cab of the old school. No need to rush - this is still early in its evolution. Having had a '74 not too long ago that was still drinking great, this will hold indefinitely. Drank with beef tenderloin with slightly spicy rub -- perfect.