Dalla Valle Vineyards : Maya 2015

A Powerful and Rich Cabernet Blend from Napa

Dalla Valle Vineyards is a family-owned wine estate, established in 1968. The winery and surrounding vineyards are situated at an altitude of 400 feet, on a plateau above the valley floor in the eastern hills of Oakville in Napa Valley. Here, the climate is characterized by ample sun exposure, combined with a cooling marine influence from the Pacific Ocean nearby. The estate's vines of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grow in a combination of red, rocky soils, volcanic rock and clay loam. 2015 was a particularly dry vintage, yielding low vigor canopies and a small crop load of beautifully concentrated fruit. The harvest arrived relatively early, finishing up in the second week of September. The color and tannins of the fruit were quite easily extracted in a relative fast maceration process. The blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc was matured primarily in new French oak barrels. This wine is made in limited quantities: only around 500 cases are produced per year.

In the glass the Maya 2015 from Dalla Valle Vineyards displays a bright red-purple hue. On the nose, a dark and fresh aromatic bouquet reveals notes of fresh strawberries, mingled with cardamom and a flinty minerality. On the palate, this combination of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc presents a wonderful depth and richesse, with a juicy core of red and black fruit flavors, along with nuances of cured meat and black licorice. Soft and smooth in the mouth, this wine is powerful, with a finish that seems to linger on forever. All the signs for a fantastic future ahead of it, this wine will last decades in the bottle.