2001 Mayacamas Vineyards Merlot

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 91.2 points

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  11/4/2023 - matters.of.wine Likes this wine: 96 Points

  I wasn’t sure how this wine would show given mixed reviews I’d found on CT. I opened this to pour blind for some friends for a fun conversion. The cork was dry and crumbled when opening. There was a decent amount of sediment, but less than o expected given the age. Double decanted to remove the sediment and let the wine breathe for 2 hrs before enjoying over 4-6 hrs.
  
  Everyone they tasted it ended up guessing Italian Sangiovese or Supertuscan. I can see why. The nose showed concentrated bright cherry, leather, some tobacco - a very pretty wine. The palate was driven by juicy acidity that was balanced by well integrated tannins.
  
  The wine was singing, and I can’t see it getting any better, though some additional tertiary notes are likely to develop with some more age. When guessing vintage, I let everyone know the bottle had some age, yet the oldest vintage guessed was 2012. The wine is holding up extremely well. This is a great value, and redefines (for me) what California Merlot can and should be.

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  9/29/2017 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 90 Points

  Second of the blind Napa Valley Mountain reds. Medium to deep ruby core and a bit lighter on the edges. A touch floral on the attack of the nose with forest floor, cherries, a little herbal and a touch of sweet spices in the finish. High acidity and balanced tannins (7/10). Medium bodied with lots of red berries and earthy characteristics. Very dry with acidity holding this wine together in its long finish. Drink till 2019.

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  4/29/2011 - mmurry Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Decanted about 2 hours. A rich nose of cherry and plum mixed with fresh turned dirt, some spice, and a bit of mocha. Just as rich on the palate, with the added bonus of biting acidity. The earth flavors and spice are more prominent here. The fruit flavors come on in the mid-palate, with the coffee flavors leading the finish.

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  2/15/2011 - spacewrangler wrote: 87 Points

  If you're acidity averse, do not drink this wine. One of the most interesting Merlots I've tasted, the acidity is dialed up to 10, nothing like your typical Cali Merlot.

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  11/24/2010 - miller3324 wrote: 92 Points

  Pop and pour. Thin and acidic at first with some sour cherry. After maybe 15 minutes in the decanter the wine completely transformed. While still light on the palate, the acidity left and a beautiful balanced wine emerged. Sour cherry turned into chocolate covered cherries and red raspberry. Some light spice and a long lingering finish. Continued to get better and better over the course of a couple hours. Reinforces the reputation of the winery and it's wines' age ability. Fun to drink and worth searching out.

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