The '78 Mayacamas is a mind boggling wine, showing a level of freshness and intensity that is hard to believe for a wine that is 46 years old.
On the nose, I found dark red to black fruit, cigar, sweet spices, roasted meats, a touch of bell pepper, and fresh mint. The wine exudes freshness and exhibits an amount of primary dark fruit that's hard to believe at its age. I would guess that blind, you would assume the wine is 10-20 years old, at most. On the palate, the wine is medium to full in body, richly textured but without heaviness, with fully integrated tannins and high acidity providing freshness. The flavor profile is similar to the nose, with a core of dark red to black fruit along with cigar, sweet spice, and red floral tones. On the finish, fresh mint notes linger along with dark fruit and spices, providing a burst of freshness.
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Provenance matters. This bottle was stunning! Power, austerity, grace, and complexity are what you find in the non-stop waves of blackberries, currants, tobacco leaf, tart cherries, wet forest floor, and spice. The chewy fruit hits all the right notes with its balance between sweet and tart. This was simply a stunning example of classic California Cabernet Sauvignon at its peak. Drink from 2023-2030.
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So f’ing minty. This bottle is not f’ing around. How is this wine 44 years old? Going to be buying more and more of the Mayacamas (it has been a clear winner throughout the weekend, both white or red). @ Napa Boys Trip
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An Epic Summer Wine Weekend; 7/1/2022-7/3/2022 (Muskoka, Ontario, Canada): This pours medium ruby in the glass with light bricking. Opaque at the core. Impressive color given the age. The nose is expressive and one I think is uniquely Californian. Aromas are of eucalyptus, cassis, blackberry, cedar, a touch of brown sugar, smoky forest and redwood forest. The palate is deep, dark and youthful as well. Medium tannin and medium acid with a finish that show lovely woody elements, redwood and cedar. Very delicious stuff.
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Old Napa Wines Dinner (Joseph's Place, Wong Chung Hang, Hong Kong): Drank blind in a long line of older Napa reds. Semi-opaque rather dusty ruby colour moving to transparent at the rim. Nose is deep, plummy and rich. Palate is initially rich, perfectly balanced, good acidic freshness....but it quickly turned green and somewhat unbalanced with distinct acidic tummy burn on the finish. Disappointing after the 1968 Inglenook that preceded it...but I guess it's all down to the individual bottle.
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The herbal, olive, green pepper and leafy components overrode the bright red pit fruits and dominated the wine. The green was there on the nose and palate, along with strong cedar and tobacco notes and a semi-austere character. Fans of this style will like it a lot more than I did.
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Burgundy, Bordeaux, and California - Dujac, PYCM, Lafon, Carillon, Niellon, Lafite, Latour, Mayacamas, Montelena, Mondavi, and more: Served blind. I thought this was an off bottle, there was a slight TCA and rubber note on the nose. The palate was sweet, with some heat on finish. It seemed disjointed. Then with air it became a bit better knit. Never really knew what to make of it, and upon the reveal I was sad as I would loved to have experienced a sound bottle of this wine. I suspect we just got a hint of its potential today, sadly.
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Out of magnum - nice dark berry flavor along with notes of tobacco and licorice. Really suave and dense with a full mid-palate and great balance and opulence. Fresh and lively with a long, succulent finish with complex notes of eucalyptus and dark spice. Drinking young out of mag. 94+
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Being drunk next to the '78 Heitz Martha's is not a fair fight but this beautiful wine held it's own. Really smooth and delicious and crunchy at the same time, it showed wonderful dark fruits along with notes of eucalyptus, licorice and cigar smoke. The finish was very cool and finely-etched without the complexity of the Martha's but this is a fabulous old Cal Cab in its own right. Very fresh and will hold.
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BEAUTIFUL COLOR, RED PINK ON THE EDGE AND RED IN THE BOWL, SO MUCH BETTER THAN PREVIOUS TASTING. ELEGANT, COMPLEX WINE WITH RICH BERRY FRUITS, CURRANTS, LICORICE, PLUMS, AND EARTHINESS.
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Poured alongside the '74, this comes across a bit rustic at first and shows a few more rough edges with a surprising amount of tannic grip on the back end. With air though it smooths out, showing a core of bright dark berried and cherry fruit framed by savoury cedary and earthy notes, and a higher toned herbal - almost minty - element that becomes more pronounced with time. Lovely, especially after it had some time to breathe in the glass.
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Leo's Blind Tasting Group - July '13 edition (Cookshop, NY): This is drinking superbly right now. Rich fruit, cedar, earth and higher toned herbal elements all coming together in a very fragrant, polished whole that combines both power and finesse. Fantastic.
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Bricking dark red violet color; tobacco, green tobacco, tart currant, dried red berry nose; rich, mature, ripe currant, dried currant, cassis, mint, dried red berry palate with medium acidity; could go 6-7 years; medium-plus finish 93+ points
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Vinified 18 months in 970 to 1220 gallon American and French oak upright fermenters and aged an additional year in old French barrique. An extraordinary wine revealing layers of deep black fruit, licorice spice and mint. The palate is saturated with flavors of black currant liqueur, black olives and black truffles. Dense but round tannins and a cleansing finish, this wine would seem capable of several more years of cellaring.
1978 California Cabernet horizontal (Il Corso.): Shows a rather red and lean profile. The fruit is more in the cherry and cranberry range and complemented by green olive, herb and brown spices. Relatively high acid and strong tannins fight with the fruit for dominance, though, at the moment, I think the fruit just wins out. Focused and snappy, I'm rather surprised that there's not more fruit here given the ripeness of the vintage and how other vintages of Mayacmas from the '70s have shown. Good in a refreshingly different way, though I'd drink up as I don't believe the fruit's going to be able to hold off the structure much longer. Low A-.
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Mature red-brown color. Mature nose of earth, leaves, herbs, and dried currant fruit. In the mouth, good texture and pleasant earthiness. A bit of tannic kick still on the finish. A nice example of mature Cab but has seen its finest days. B+
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Tart red fruit and earthy scents in the nose. Rustic in personality, the fruit is fading and leaves you a tart, cranberry, drying sensation in the finish. Drink up.
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TOOK 15 MINUTES TO OPEN UP, THEN DEEP BERRIES, LICORICE, AND BLACK CHERRIES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR REMINESCENT OF THE 1974 THOUGH NOT QUITE AS RICH. LONG FINISH.
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Started off very closed up, then after about 1/2 hour in the glass it really started to show its stuff. Dark, brick red in color. Intense berry, chocolate, and tar/leather. Unfortunately the intense flavors only lasted for about 1/2 a glass before it started to fall apart.
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Perhaps the most pleasant sip of wine I had ever experienced when I tasted it 10 years ago. One of the most harmonious and balanced, yet complex, wines that I have tasted. I suspect that it's getting closer to the end of its life at this point, but would still highly recommend it to anyone who might be able to obtain a bottle.
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3/3/2024 - Robmcl920 Likes this wine: 95 Points
The '78 Mayacamas is a mind boggling wine, showing a level of freshness and intensity that is hard to believe for a wine that is 46 years old.
On the nose, I found dark red to black fruit, cigar, sweet spices, roasted meats, a touch of bell pepper, and fresh mint. The wine exudes freshness and exhibits an amount of primary dark fruit that's hard to believe at its age. I would guess that blind, you would assume the wine is 10-20 years old, at most. On the palate, the wine is medium to full in body, richly textured but without heaviness, with fully integrated tannins and high acidity providing freshness. The flavor profile is similar to the nose, with a core of dark red to black fruit along with cigar, sweet spice, and red floral tones. On the finish, fresh mint notes linger along with dark fruit and spices, providing a burst of freshness.
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12/4/2023 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
Provenance matters. This bottle was stunning! Power, austerity, grace, and complexity are what you find in the non-stop waves of blackberries, currants, tobacco leaf, tart cherries, wet forest floor, and spice. The chewy fruit hits all the right notes with its balance between sweet and tart. This was simply a stunning example of classic California Cabernet Sauvignon at its peak. Drink from 2023-2030.
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2/4/2023 - ash_then_chase Likes this wine: 97 Points
So f’ing minty. This bottle is not f’ing around. How is this wine 44 years old? Going to be buying more and more of the Mayacamas (it has been a clear winner throughout the weekend, both white or red). @ Napa Boys Trip
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7/3/2022 - Wine Canuck wrote: 93 Points
An Epic Summer Wine Weekend; 7/1/2022-7/3/2022 (Muskoka, Ontario, Canada): This pours medium ruby in the glass with light bricking. Opaque at the core. Impressive color given the age. The nose is expressive and one I think is uniquely Californian. Aromas are of eucalyptus, cassis, blackberry, cedar, a touch of brown sugar, smoky forest and redwood forest. The palate is deep, dark and youthful as well. Medium tannin and medium acid with a finish that show lovely woody elements, redwood and cedar. Very delicious stuff.
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10/30/2020 - Goldstone wrote: 87 Points
Old Napa Wines Dinner (Joseph's Place, Wong Chung Hang, Hong Kong): Drank blind in a long line of older Napa reds. Semi-opaque rather dusty ruby colour moving to transparent at the rim. Nose is deep, plummy and rich. Palate is initially rich, perfectly balanced, good acidic freshness....but it quickly turned green and somewhat unbalanced with distinct acidic tummy burn on the finish. Disappointing after the 1968 Inglenook that preceded it...but I guess it's all down to the individual bottle.
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8/17/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 88 Points
The herbal, olive, green pepper and leafy components overrode the bright red pit fruits and dominated the wine. The green was there on the nose and palate, along with strong cedar and tobacco notes and a semi-austere character. Fans of this style will like it a lot more than I did.
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11/28/2018 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wine Dinner at Atlas. No notes. Amazing experience/education in Burgundy (and others). Holding up very well for 40 year old Napa. Well done.
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11/27/2018 - Alex G. wrote:
Burgundy, Bordeaux, and California - Dujac, PYCM, Lafon, Carillon, Niellon, Lafite, Latour, Mayacamas, Montelena, Mondavi, and more: Served blind. I thought this was an off bottle, there was a slight TCA and rubber note on the nose. The palate was sweet, with some heat on finish. It seemed disjointed. Then with air it became a bit better knit. Never really knew what to make of it, and upon the reveal I was sad as I would loved to have experienced a sound bottle of this wine. I suspect we just got a hint of its potential today, sadly.
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8/8/2018 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
Out of magnum - nice dark berry flavor along with notes of tobacco and licorice. Really suave and dense with a full mid-palate and great balance and opulence. Fresh and lively with a long, succulent finish with complex notes of eucalyptus and dark spice. Drinking young out of mag. 94+
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8/7/2018 - nywine68 wrote: 95 Points
What a gorgeous wine! Showing once again how superb 1978 Cali Cabs are.
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6/1/2017 - dream Likes this wine: 95 Points
Being drunk next to the '78 Heitz Martha's is not a fair fight but this beautiful wine held it's own. Really smooth and delicious and crunchy at the same time, it showed wonderful dark fruits along with notes of eucalyptus, licorice and cigar smoke. The finish was very cool and finely-etched without the complexity of the Martha's but this is a fabulous old Cal Cab in its own right. Very fresh and will hold.
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5/30/2017 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 94 Points
Quite young, this bottle was in need of more time. Wonderful emerging complexity, there is still significant upside here. 94+
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6/28/2016 - buckeye76 wrote: 98 Points
BEAUTIFUL COLOR, RED PINK ON THE EDGE AND RED IN THE BOWL, SO MUCH BETTER THAN PREVIOUS TASTING. ELEGANT, COMPLEX WINE WITH RICH BERRY FRUITS, CURRANTS, LICORICE, PLUMS, AND EARTHINESS.
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11/13/2014 - salil wrote: 92 Points
Poured alongside the '74, this comes across a bit rustic at first and shows a few more rough edges with a surprising amount of tannic grip on the back end. With air though it smooths out, showing a core of bright dark berried and cherry fruit framed by savoury cedary and earthy notes, and a higher toned herbal - almost minty - element that becomes more pronounced with time. Lovely, especially after it had some time to breathe in the glass.
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7/21/2013 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Leo's Blind Tasting Group - July '13 edition (Cookshop, NY): This is drinking superbly right now. Rich fruit, cedar, earth and higher toned herbal elements all coming together in a very fragrant, polished whole that combines both power and finesse. Fantastic.
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7/3/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Bricking dark red violet color; tobacco, green tobacco, tart currant, dried red berry nose; rich, mature, ripe currant, dried currant, cassis, mint, dried red berry palate with medium acidity; could go 6-7 years; medium-plus finish 93+ points
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7/3/2013 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
1970-1981 Mayacamas Cabs (Tasted blind) (Tom's house in Palo Alto, California): Modest nose upon opening, but it improved with time in the glass (B++). Soft palate (B++).
My #5, Group's #8 (107 pts). Tasted blind.
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7/3/2013 - zscheiner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Blind Tasting '70-'81 Mayacamas Cabernets (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA): Fresh berry nose. Youthful, deep fruit, velvety texture with light tannin. Many years left. (my 3rd, group's 8th)
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5/14/2013 - sfern Likes this wine: 94 Points
If you can find a well stored bottle of this -grab it! Still drinking great, delicious, dynamic cabernet sauvignon.
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11/26/2012 - JesseBeckerMS Likes this wine:
Vinified 18 months in 970 to 1220 gallon American and French oak upright fermenters and aged an additional year in old French barrique. An extraordinary wine revealing layers of deep black fruit, licorice spice and mint. The palate is saturated with flavors of black currant liqueur, black olives and black truffles. Dense but round tannins and a cleansing finish, this wine would seem capable of several more years of cellaring.
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9/11/2012 - BradKNYC wrote:
1978 California Cabernet horizontal (Il Corso.): Shows a rather red and lean profile. The fruit is more in the cherry and cranberry range and complemented by green olive, herb and brown spices. Relatively high acid and strong tannins fight with the fruit for dominance, though, at the moment, I think the fruit just wins out. Focused and snappy, I'm rather surprised that there's not more fruit here given the ripeness of the vintage and how other vintages of Mayacmas from the '70s have shown. Good in a refreshingly different way, though I'd drink up as I don't believe the fruit's going to be able to hold off the structure much longer. Low A-.
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6/15/2012 - gutt22 wrote:
Mature red-brown color. Mature nose of earth, leaves, herbs, and dried currant fruit. In the mouth, good texture and pleasant earthiness. A bit of tannic kick still on the finish. A nice example of mature Cab but has seen its finest days. B+
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10/29/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 84 Points
Tart red fruit and earthy scents in the nose. Rustic in personality, the fruit is fading and leaves you a tart, cranberry, drying sensation in the finish. Drink up.
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2/7/2011 - MRichman wrote:
Blind tasting at Hearth (Hearth Restaurant, NYC): A bit of tar and toffee. Gentle glycerine, olive, herbs. Hot and young. A little stiff but drinking fine. Complex and lovely.
A-
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1/12/2006 - buckeye76 wrote: 92 Points
TOOK 15 MINUTES TO OPEN UP, THEN DEEP BERRIES, LICORICE, AND BLACK CHERRIES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR REMINESCENT OF THE 1974 THOUGH NOT QUITE AS RICH. LONG FINISH.
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5/18/2005 - jamiekutch wrote:
THE FIRST SUPPER – Dinner with Robert Parker; 5/17/2005-5/18/2005 (Corks Restaurant, Baltimore Maryland): This vintage tasted like something went wrong at the winery as we all tasted medicine - almost liquid Tylenol. Bob called it resin. No balance and showing its age.
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2/12/2005 - ChillyWino wrote: 85 Points
Started off very closed up, then after about 1/2 hour in the glass it really started to show its stuff. Dark, brick red in color. Intense berry, chocolate, and tar/leather. Unfortunately the intense flavors only lasted for about 1/2 a glass before it started to fall apart.
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11/1/2004 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine: 99 Points
Perhaps the most pleasant sip of wine I had ever experienced when I tasted it 10 years ago. One of the most harmonious and balanced, yet complex, wines that I have tasted. I suspect that it's getting closer to the end of its life at this point, but would still highly recommend it to anyone who might be able to obtain a bottle.
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