“Sassicaia" and "Latour of Napa” – The Region's First Growth and Pioneering Winery,Top of Mt Veeder

California’s First Growth and Pioneering Winery at the Top of Mount Veeder Recalls the Glories of the 1970s! It’s the Old School Napa Cab That Will Satisfy Sassicaia Enthusiasts and Beyond…

“Mayacamas Vineyards’ Cabernet, often called the Chateau Latour of California, certainly displays great similarity to Chateau Latour. Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet at its peak often delivers an aromatic and flavor profile that (also) shares many elements with La Mission Haut Brion or other top Graves properties, coupled with a deep core of sweet black cherry fruit that could only hail from California. In short, if California had first growths, Mayacamas would unequivocally be one.” –John Gilman

Here is a Cabernet Sauvignon that got us excited, and it is not a 2021 Super Tuscan, but rather a somewhat forgotten patriarch of American wine - Mayacamas Vineyards. It had been labeled the "Chateau Latour of Napa," and IWM, you might even say it is the "Sassicaia of Napa," in that it is a true patriarch and symbolic wine of a region - delivered with more restraint and finesse than many of its neighbors. It is also true; Italian Wine Merchants does not carry many wines from Napa Valley and are very selective in the Cabernets we carry. They are often old-school wines delivering expressions of mountain fruit from the likes of Togni, Dunn Vineyards, and today’s featured producer.

In fact, for IWM, if you have to buy a wine from Napa Valley, it is not necessarily the cult wines of Schrader, Harlan, or even Opus One, it is the old-world Cabernet Sauvignon of Mayacamas that is one to consider. These are not over-the-top in your face cult Cali, but rather this is finessed Cabernet that can appeal to the Sassicaia and Latour enthusiast and collector. And whether it is simple nostalgia, or good old American spirit, there is just something about the historic Mayacamas Vineyards, with its prized mountain fruit from the top of Mount Veeder, that draws you back to the California glories of the 1970s and challenging First Growth Bordeaux in the Judgement of Paris. The good news is, the wines remain classic Napa Valley Cabernet expressions, built on finesse, red and black fruit, and structure, as opposed to opulence, extraction, and new oak. We are now providing access to the just arrived 2019 Mayacamas Vineyards Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon for what is truly Napa Valley Cabernet with an Old World feel from the important and generous 2019 vintage.

FEATURED WINE(s): New Release from Mayacamas Vineyards

The historic 19th century Mount Veeder property dates back to the 1890s and recently reached its next chapter with new ownership back in 2013. Known as a pioneer of great California wine, participating, and challenging First Growth Bordeaux in the 1976 Judgement of Paris, Mayacamas Vineyards has undergone immense developments with its new team of Annie Favia and Andy Erickson (of Harlan, Staglin, Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Ovid) helping to revitalize the estate. While both winery and vineyards have been cautiously and painstakingly restored, the same old-school Napa Cabernet spirit that the winery was built on remains intact. Robert Parker previously stated, "during the sixties and seventies this was the Cabernet that connoisseurs lined up to buy." Well, the 2019 vintage is another triumphant release from the estate that recaptures the glory years!  Even in the warmer vintage of 2019 it is another classic expression to celebrate with as the wine clocks in at just 14% alcohol and screams old school Napa Mountain fruit more high-toned precision and depth. It truly is a pinnacle expression of Napa Cabernet delivered with a sense of place that was absolutely stunning to taste and recalls its storied past.

ADDITIONAL NOTES AND REVIEWS:

“there was no greater or longer-lived cabernet sauvignon…1968, 1970, 1973, and 1974 Cabernet Sauvignons remain etched in my memory as wines of first-growth quality” – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2019 MAYACAMAS CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Christopher Deas, Italian Wine Merchants: “This is for those that appreciate finesse and elegance in their Napa Valley Cabernet. It is a wine that can please the Sassicaia enthusiast and even those that appreciate Pontet Canet, let alone those that love Corison and Forman. This is an expression that explains why people fell in love with the old school Napa cabernets from the sixties and seventies. It is traditional in style, which is best indicated on the label with its relatively low alcohol of 14% in the warm vintage of 2019. One pull of the cork and the wine screams noble Cabernet purity from across the table – the aromatics are worth the price of admission all alone. Yes, there is succulent fruit, but this is NOT flamboyant, but rather restrained Napa with verve that does not clobber you and truly displays a sense of place. In the glass, it tells the same story, this is a wine that you can see your finger through it; it's not opaque or over the top. This is high toned Mountain fruit, with freshness, precision, brightness, and depth. An awesome spectrum of nuances that range from mulberries, cassis, plum, black cherry, licorice, crushed violets, graphite and stoney minerality that screams old world and to the storied past here. We love the savoriness on the wine with the salinity on the finish. There is a reason that this has been referred to as the Chateau Latour of Napa and that the judges at the Judgement of Paris confused this with Bordeaux – it remains old school Napa done right.”

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator: "Loaded with character and energy, this version reveals heavy notes of zesty sweet bay leaf and sassafras that infuse a core of steeped red currant and mulberry fruit, all carried by bright acidity and iron-laced tannins. The long finish pulls everything together, with the fruit, savory and mineral elements in harmony. Showing an old-school touch, this has a long life ahead. Best from 2025 through 2045. 4,000 cases made."

Jeb Dunnuck: "Moving to the current releases, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is clearly on another level. Cassis, violets, spring flowers, and graphite, as well as a beautiful sense of minerality, all emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, fine, polished tannins, fabulous balance, and a great finish. This stunning bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon will drink nicely over the coming 30 years or more."

This is an email ONLY offer!  Should you have any questions on these exciting wines, or would like to take advantage of this offer (that is only available until 11:59pm, Tuesday, April 23rd), we are asking that orders be emailed back to chris.deas@italianwinemerchants.com, or connect with your Portfolio Manager AND mention receipt of this offer if calling the store. All orders are subject to confirmation. IWM is not responsible for typographical errors.

All my best,

Chris