{"product_id":"2018-dalla-valle-maya","title":"2018 Dalla Valle Maya","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 2018 Dalla Valle Maya is one of Napa Valley’s true modern icons, a poised and powerful red that marries mountain intensity with remarkable finesse. Crafted from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and a strikingly high proportion of Cabernet Franc, this cuvée delivers depth, perfume and structure in equal measure. Awarded a perfect 100-point score, the 2018 vintage confirms Maya’s status as one of California’s most collectible and age-worthy wines.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, the 2018 Maya is deeply saturated and opaque, with an inky ruby-purple core and a vibrant, youthful rim that hints at its long life ahead. The nose is dense yet remarkably nuanced: waves of blackcurrant (cassis) and red cherry unfold alongside blueberry, pomegranate and a touch of blood orange zest. Layers of milk chocolate, mocha and fine tobacco intertwine with menthol, crushed flint and beautifully integrated French oak, creating a complex, almost ethereal aromatic halo.\n\nOn the palate, the wine is both powerful and exquisitely polished. Silky, ultra-fine tannins provide a firm but caressing structure, carrying a concentrated core of ripe dark and red fruits wrapped in a vibrant, mineral-driven acidity. Notes of cocoa, espresso, spice and graphite emerge with air, building in intensity toward an exceptionally long, seamless finish. Still very young, this 2018 Maya has the balance, depth and precision to evolve beautifully for decades; cellaring for 10–20 years (and likely beyond) will be richly rewarded.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDalla Valle Vineyard sits about 800 feet above the Silverado Trail on Napa Valley’s eastern hillsides, where rocky, well-drained volcanic soils and a warm, sun-drenched exposure create ideal conditions for Cabernet-based reds of great concentration and elegance. The fruit for Maya comes from the estate block of the same name, planted predominantly to Cabernet Sauvignon with a significant 33% share of Cabernet Franc, which lends fragrance and lift. Harvest is carried out entirely by hand between late September and early October, with meticulous bunch selection in the vineyard and again at the winery. The grapes are carefully destemmed and slowly fermented, allowing for gentle extraction of color, tannin and flavor. After fermentation, the wine is matured for more than two years in top-quality French oak barrels, where it gains additional complexity, texture and aromatic nuance before bottling.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a definitive wine for refined, richly flavored cuisine: think dry-aged ribeye or Châteaubriand, slow-braised beef short ribs, venison, or lamb roasted with rosemary and garlic. It also shines alongside truffle dishes, wild mushroom ragout, and aged hard cheeses such as Comté or Parmigiano Reggiano. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight both its fruit and its aromatic complexity. In its youth, decanting for 2–3 hours is strongly recommended to allow the wine to fully open; for bottles with some age, a gentle 1–2 hour decant will be sufficient to reveal its layered, harmonious character.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFounded in 1982 by Naoko and Gustav Dalla Valle, Dalla Valle Vineyard quickly rose to prominence as one of Napa Valley’s benchmark hillside estates. Located high above the Silverado Trail, the property was pioneering in its early decision to plant vines on steep, rocky slopes at a time when much of the valley’s focus remained on the floor below. The estate’s reputation was firmly established when its Cabernet Sauvignon received a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker in 1992—only the second Californian wine to earn this distinction at the time. Today, Dalla Valle is revered for crafting some of California’s most sought-after, terroir-driven Cabernet blends, with Maya standing at the pinnacle of the portfolio as a standard-bearer for Napa Valley’s capacity for both power and profound elegance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dalla Valle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54251804557649,"sku":"GCW-MAYA-18001","price":595.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/2018_Dalla_Valle_Maya.png?v=1783441524","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/2018-dalla-valle-maya","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}