To Tony (La Grange Park, IL): There's a fair bit of a Bordelais bent to this wine as well -- it's showing lots of wood shavings and leather on the nose and palate. The thing that separates this from Bordeaux of this era is the generosity of fruit that Napa was able to accomplish. This has a relatively stern cabernet profile, in that the structure and the non-fruit elements take the drivers seat, but given the plush fruit on the passenger side, there is fantastic balance as well. I liked this a hair more than the 1974 alongside, which was a bit more heart-on-its-sleeve.
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Judgement of Paris Tasting and Dinner (V. Mertz - Omaha, NE): Served blind alongside what was later to be revealed as the 1970 Montrose. Our humble table was universally convinced the other wine was from Bordeaux and there was at least one that was adamant this was the legendary 1970 Mayacamas. What wasn’t up for debate was the nose, which was absolutely stunning. A melange of ripe, dried and desiccated dark and red fruits with dried flowers, leather, sweet tobacco and the prettiest baking spices your nose ever smelled on a Cabernet from California. It was almost Burgundian relative to the Montrose. This is a vinous wine with acid keeping it spry. And while it is likely to give “Ohhs and Ahhs” for years to come, it is so gorgeous right now that I wouldn’t hesitate to pull the cork and taste one of the most important wines in history while it still has its potency. This will be one of those wines that haunt me for years to come and I’m ever so grateful to have enjoyed it. A sublime pairing with Iberico de Bellota pork loin with harissa purée and ramps.
Deep dark red color. Big cedar, complex nose. Still good fruit balanced with soft tannins. Silky. Nice depth. Tobacco and earth notes. . Such good balance. Very Bordeaux like. Exceptional wine given its age. Totally different than a 1974 Spring Mountain cab served alongside that was more fruit forward. 96
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The '70 Mayacamas is a stunning, vibrant wine that appears to be drinking at peak. The nose was dark, expressive, and complex, with black cherry fruit, licorice, espresso, smoke, sage, cedar, and a hint of bell pepper. On the palate, the wine was still vibrant and nicely concentrated, but showed great elegance with fully resolved tannins and a silky texture, and notable freshness with medium+ acidity. I found a core of dark red and black fruit tones enveloped in cigar smoke and earth, joined by a touch of bell pepper towards the finish, which was a good length. It's a gorgeous wine and while I don't think there's anything to gain from aging longer, seems likely to hang on for a while.
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So much better than the bottle I tasted over a decade ago, this was just great. Piquant red fruit, cedar, leaf, herbs, pepper and tobacco were all over the place. Sweet and tart, full-bodied, spicy and bright, with length and an earthy, red berry finish, this is classic California Cabernet at its best.
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On the nose, a hair raising melange of blackberry, anise, roasted coffee beans, chocolate, and black currant. Strong spine of salty fruit with emerging sweetness on a welded base of acid and tannin, divine modulation into a long winding acid finish, each sip a variation on a complex theme. Monumental, moving, beyond time.
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Extraordinary wine! At The Wolf in Oakland. Served blind to us (next to the 1970 Lynch Bages) by Michael. Decanted for 3-4 hours. While the 1970 LB was very nice, it paled in comparison to what turned out to be the 1970 Mayacamas. Ruby red in color. Fragrant floral and herbal nose. Dark fruit (berries, currants) on the palate, along with cedar and a touch of eucalyptus. Smooth yet vibrant. Tannin fully integrated. Excellent finish. I'm thinking cabernet based wine that tastes youthful, but could be a quarter century old. I guess 1995 or 1996 left bank Bordeaux. Wrong continent and merely another quarter century off! This bottle brings to mind the 1968 BV Georges Latour and particularly the 1970 Yverdon I've been fortunate enough to taste in recent years. Just a gorgeous wine!
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Very open for business here especially compared to the '74. Wonderful fragrance on the nose with notes of sage, olives and sweet cassis. Simply beautifully integrated on the palate with a stunning array of complex flavors of truffles, tobacco, dark cherries and mint. So fine and grippy with perfect symmetry. Wow!
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From a very nice looking bottle with a bottom neck fill, this wine had a very deep red center with some orange at the rim. This wine showed heavy sous bois notes at first. After 4 hours of air the nose evolved into black cherries, peppermint patties, loamy soil, and clove.
In the mouth, this was dramatic and reasonably balanced other than some outsized tannins at first. After it aired, it showed great richness, rounded tannins, huge fruit, and excellent length. This did not have the sophistication of a great Bordeaux but it was an impressive wine.
This is an impressive CA mountain wine that is in its prime. While it will certainly last for a decade plus, I doubt it will get better. Enjoy!
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This started out with a musty earthy nose, but then revealed cab spices, old cigar box, leather, slight black rubber note; medium bodied, good concentration with a soft broader entry, this is showing really well, if not a bit 1-dimensional; tannins are strong, and much higher than the '70 Ducru Beaucaillou. Renee France vs. CA tasting.
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What a treat. I've had this in the cellar since release. Last time tasted was 1992. My wife put a note around the neck, saying to "not open until 2010". Well, we were a little late, but I must say there is not hurry to open the next one. Decanted x 4 hours. Great nose of cedar, cigar box. Dusty tannins initially resolved with time in the glass. Still good fruit. Very long. I have a mag left....when to open...These wines last forever...Impressive.
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Tasted side-by-side with the 1969, both out of magnum. Gorgeous aromatics in a soaring nose -- mature red fruit, cedar and cigar box. Wow, still has rich cedary fruit on the palate with some fine tannin providing grip. Long, suave polished finish.
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Chicago Wine Flock...Gary Opens Cali Cab (Chez Weber - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind alongside the 1969, both from magnums. This came cross as very Left Bank Bordeaux-like to me, with tobacco, mature black plum and currant with some licorice. Very elegant. Turned out that this 1st wine was my favorite of all the 13 blind Cali cabs tasted tonight.
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Very sweet and ripe dark fruit. Some coffee and earth. Vanilla and chocolate. Outstanding depth and symmetry. Very Bordeaux, but with a new world ripeness and purity of fruit.
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Out of the btl dark color, hints of lavender, Bordeaux like qualities, lasting in the glass, builds in depth and lasting on the palate. All time surprise and treat.
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WHILE NOT AS GOOD AS THE MILLENIUM MAGNUM, STILL IMPRESSIVE AND GOT BETTER OVER TIME. BLACK CHERRIES, CURRANTS, LICORICE, AND CHOCOLATE IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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Earthy nose with definite hints of paprika. Cork was completely soaked. Color was dark and milky, and the palatte showed signs of chocolate, little tannins.
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SOBER Tasting (JG's place): Earthy nose, with a touch of alcohol. On the palate, lovely dark cherry, acids, and earthy notes. Moss, cedar. Beautiful wine.
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Color was surprisingly deep -- like a young wine. Nose was wonderful, with a nice earth component. On the palate, the fruit has faded substantially to give way to the still significant tannins. It did improve over the course of an hour or so, but remained fairly agressive. Overall impression: Quite a nice showing for this 36-year old classic.
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California 'cult' lunch at Spago with Leve (Los Angeles, CA): Leve proclaimed this corked. Nope, not even close. It was old though showing clear notes of rotting underbrush. The color is surprisingly dark and youthful in the glass. The palate doesn't show a ton of complexity, but this was enjoyable and very sippable. My score is probably a little generous, but after all of the bruisers I was happy to work on this one.
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INCREDIBLE, AND COULD STILL GO ANOTHER 20 YEARS. RAMARKABLY RICH FRUIT, CASSIS, AND TOUCH OF CHOCOLATE. VERY COMPLEX, JUST KEPT CHANGING OVER THE NIGHT. LONG, LINGERING FINISH.
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5/1/2024 - acyso wrote: 95 Points
To Tony (La Grange Park, IL): There's a fair bit of a Bordelais bent to this wine as well -- it's showing lots of wood shavings and leather on the nose and palate. The thing that separates this from Bordeaux of this era is the generosity of fruit that Napa was able to accomplish. This has a relatively stern cabernet profile, in that the structure and the non-fruit elements take the drivers seat, but given the plush fruit on the passenger side, there is fantastic balance as well. I liked this a hair more than the 1974 alongside, which was a bit more heart-on-its-sleeve.
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5/24/2023 - thesternowl wrote: 97 Points
Judgement of Paris Tasting and Dinner (V. Mertz - Omaha, NE): Served blind alongside what was later to be revealed as the 1970 Montrose. Our humble table was universally convinced the other wine was from Bordeaux and there was at least one that was adamant this was the legendary 1970 Mayacamas. What wasn’t up for debate was the nose, which was absolutely stunning. A melange of ripe, dried and desiccated dark and red fruits with dried flowers, leather, sweet tobacco and the prettiest baking spices your nose ever smelled on a Cabernet from California. It was almost Burgundian relative to the Montrose. This is a vinous wine with acid keeping it spry. And while it is likely to give “Ohhs and Ahhs” for years to come, it is so gorgeous right now that I wouldn’t hesitate to pull the cork and taste one of the most important wines in history while it still has its potency. This will be one of those wines that haunt me for years to come and I’m ever so grateful to have enjoyed it. A sublime pairing with Iberico de Bellota pork loin with harissa purée and ramps.
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2/12/2023 - rnellans wrote: 96 Points
Deep dark red color. Big cedar, complex nose. Still good fruit balanced with soft tannins. Silky. Nice depth. Tobacco and earth notes. . Such good balance. Very Bordeaux like. Exceptional wine given its age. Totally different than a 1974 Spring Mountain cab served alongside that was more fruit forward. 96
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11/21/2020 - Robmcl920 Likes this wine: 96 Points
The '70 Mayacamas is a stunning, vibrant wine that appears to be drinking at peak. The nose was dark, expressive, and complex, with black cherry fruit, licorice, espresso, smoke, sage, cedar, and a hint of bell pepper. On the palate, the wine was still vibrant and nicely concentrated, but showed great elegance with fully resolved tannins and a silky texture, and notable freshness with medium+ acidity. I found a core of dark red and black fruit tones enveloped in cigar smoke and earth, joined by a touch of bell pepper towards the finish, which was a good length. It's a gorgeous wine and while I don't think there's anything to gain from aging longer, seems likely to hang on for a while.
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2/2/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
So much better than the bottle I tasted over a decade ago, this was just great. Piquant red fruit, cedar, leaf, herbs, pepper and tobacco were all over the place. Sweet and tart, full-bodied, spicy and bright, with length and an earthy, red berry finish, this is classic California Cabernet at its best.
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11/29/2019 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 97 Points
On the nose, a hair raising melange of blackberry, anise, roasted coffee beans, chocolate, and black currant. Strong spine of salty fruit with emerging sweetness on a welded base of acid and tannin, divine modulation into a long winding acid finish, each sip a variation on a complex theme. Monumental, moving, beyond time.
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9/15/2019 - mhudes Likes this wine: 98 Points
Extraordinary wine! At The Wolf in Oakland. Served blind to us (next to the 1970 Lynch Bages) by Michael. Decanted for 3-4 hours. While the 1970 LB was very nice, it paled in comparison to what turned out to be the 1970 Mayacamas. Ruby red in color. Fragrant floral and herbal nose. Dark fruit (berries, currants) on the palate, along with cedar and a touch of eucalyptus. Smooth yet vibrant. Tannin fully integrated. Excellent finish. I'm thinking cabernet based wine that tastes youthful, but could be a quarter century old. I guess 1995 or 1996 left bank Bordeaux. Wrong continent and merely another quarter century off! This bottle brings to mind the 1968 BV Georges Latour and particularly the 1970 Yverdon I've been fortunate enough to taste in recent years. Just a gorgeous wine!
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10/5/2018 - dream Likes this wine: 97 Points
Very open for business here especially compared to the '74. Wonderful fragrance on the nose with notes of sage, olives and sweet cassis. Simply beautifully integrated on the palate with a stunning array of complex flavors of truffles, tobacco, dark cherries and mint. So fine and grippy with perfect symmetry. Wow!
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10/3/2018 - nywine68 wrote: 96 Points
Duos, Trios and Quartets Among Friends (Ai Fiori Restaurant, NYC): Awesome! Very nicely balanced and integrated. Much more accessible than the 1974. Everything melds together seamlessly in this wine. The fresh red fruit is so alive and delicious.
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3/10/2017 - fclarity wrote: 95 Points
From a very nice looking bottle with a bottom neck fill, this wine had a very deep red center with some orange at the rim. This wine showed heavy sous bois notes at first. After 4 hours of air the nose evolved into black cherries, peppermint patties, loamy soil, and clove.
In the mouth, this was dramatic and reasonably balanced other than some outsized tannins at first. After it aired, it showed great richness, rounded tannins, huge fruit, and excellent length. This did not have the sophistication of a great Bordeaux but it was an impressive wine.
This is an impressive CA mountain wine that is in its prime. While it will certainly last for a decade plus, I doubt it will get better. Enjoy!
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10/22/2016 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
This started out with a musty earthy nose, but then revealed cab spices, old cigar box, leather, slight black rubber note; medium bodied, good concentration with a soft broader entry, this is showing really well, if not a bit 1-dimensional; tannins are strong, and much higher than the '70 Ducru Beaucaillou. Renee France vs. CA tasting.
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8/14/2016 - rnellans wrote: 95 Points
What a treat. I've had this in the cellar since release. Last time tasted was 1992. My wife put a note around the neck, saying to "not open until 2010". Well, we were a little late, but I must say there is not hurry to open the next one. Decanted x 4 hours. Great nose of cedar, cigar box. Dusty tannins initially resolved with time in the glass. Still good fruit. Very long. I have a mag left....when to open...These wines last forever...Impressive.
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6/10/2016 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Tasted side-by-side with the 1969, both out of magnum. Gorgeous aromatics in a soaring nose -- mature red fruit, cedar and cigar box. Wow, still has rich cedary fruit on the palate with some fine tannin providing grip. Long, suave polished finish.
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6/10/2016 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wine Flock Intro-Retro Blind Tasting (Gary's home outside on the porch, Chicago IL): Served out of magnum, pop and pour, side by side with the '69, blind. Initial nose was Bordeaux like yet with some sweetness, so Cali Cab, some damp cellar nose, I thought at least 30+ old.
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6/10/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Chicago Wine Flock...Gary Opens Cali Cab (Chez Weber - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind alongside the 1969, both from magnums. This came cross as very Left Bank Bordeaux-like to me, with tobacco, mature black plum and currant with some licorice. Very elegant. Turned out that this 1st wine was my favorite of all the 13 blind Cali cabs tasted tonight.
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4/12/2015 - johnh1001 wrote: 96 Points
Very sweet and ripe dark fruit. Some coffee and earth. Vanilla and chocolate. Outstanding depth and symmetry. Very Bordeaux, but with a new world ripeness and purity of fruit.
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3/26/2015 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 98 Points
Out of the btl dark color, hints of lavender, Bordeaux like qualities, lasting in the glass, builds in depth and lasting on the palate. All time surprise and treat.
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7/3/2013 - europat55 wrote: 88 Points
1970-1981 Mayacamas Cabs (Tasted blind) (Tom's house in Palo Alto, California): Some heat and some funk on the nose (B+). Weird, soft palate (B+).
My #7, Group's #6 (101 pts). Tasted blind.
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7/3/2013 - zscheiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blind Tasting '70-'81 Mayacamas Cabernets (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA): Oldest nose, savory, tea. Fresh and lovely in the mouth, with berry and bramble, some light black tea tannin. (my 6th, group's 6th)
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11/29/2009 - buckeye76 wrote: 93 Points
WHILE NOT AS GOOD AS THE MILLENIUM MAGNUM, STILL IMPRESSIVE AND GOT BETTER OVER TIME. BLACK CHERRIES, CURRANTS, LICORICE, AND CHOCOLATE IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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11/27/2009 - NomadicEntrepreneur wrote: 92 Points
Earthy nose with definite hints of paprika. Cork was completely soaked. Color was dark and milky, and the palatte showed signs of chocolate, little tannins.
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12/28/2008 - Jeff Leve wrote: 88 Points
Great aromatics. Some cherry tinged fruit in the short finish. The wine declined in the glass after 10/20 minutes.
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5/15/2007 - trankin wrote: 94 Points
SOBER Tasting (JG's place): Earthy nose, with a touch of alcohol. On the palate, lovely dark cherry, acids, and earthy notes. Moss, cedar. Beautiful wine.
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2/3/2007 - Seanr7 wrote: 93 Points
Just an outstanding wine, deep dark red tannins were still there plenty of fruit still several years left for this one.
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9/1/2006 - xwine wrote:
Color was surprisingly deep -- like a young wine. Nose was wonderful, with a nice earth component. On the palate, the fruit has faded substantially to give way to the still significant tannins. It did improve over the course of an hour or so, but remained fairly agressive. Overall impression: Quite a nice showing for this 36-year old classic.
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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): Sweeter still has some time to live in the bottle this tasted denser and was good but not great with its earthy notes.
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2/16/2005 - Eric wrote: 89 Points
California 'cult' lunch at Spago with Leve (Los Angeles, CA): Leve proclaimed this corked. Nope, not even close. It was old though showing clear notes of rotting underbrush. The color is surprisingly dark and youthful in the glass. The palate doesn't show a ton of complexity, but this was enjoyable and very sippable. My score is probably a little generous, but after all of the bruisers I was happy to work on this one.
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12/31/1999 - buckeye76 wrote: 96 Points
INCREDIBLE, AND COULD STILL GO ANOTHER 20 YEARS. RAMARKABLY RICH FRUIT, CASSIS, AND TOUCH OF CHOCOLATE. VERY COMPLEX, JUST KEPT CHANGING OVER THE NIGHT. LONG, LINGERING FINISH.
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