2019 Dalla Valle Maya

2019 Dalla Valle Maya is one of Napa Valley’s modern icons, a profound, limited-production red that gracefully marries power with polish. Sourced from the estate’s namesake block high above the Silverado Trail, this Cabernet Sauvignon–Cabernet Franc blend captures the essence of hillside Napa: depth of fruit, mineral tension, and remarkable purity. Awarded a perfect 100/100 points, it stands as a benchmark for contemporary California winegrowing.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2019 Maya shows an opaque, inky ruby-purple core with a vibrant rim, hinting at its youth and concentration. The nose is intensely layered: cassis and ripe red cherries lead, supported by blueberry and pomegranate, with blood orange brightness. Notes of milk chocolate, mocha, fine tobacco leaf, menthol, and a subtle flinty, mineral reduction unfold gradually, all wrapped in beautifully integrated, high-quality French oak spice. On the palate, the wine is both powerful and exquisitely refined. Silky, ultra-fine tannins coat the mouth without any harshness, while a lively, mineral-driven acidity lifts the rich dark and red fruit. Cassis, cherry, and blueberry are interwoven with cocoa, espresso, graphite, and a whisper of menthol, building in intensity towards a long, seemingly endless finish. The structure and balance are impeccable, suggesting superb aging potential; it will develop additional complexity and nuance over decades, rewarding patience for 15–30+ years.

Production
Dalla Valle’s estate vineyards sit about 800 feet above the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley, on steep, well-drained hillsides that combine rocky, volcanic soils with cooling afternoon breezes—conditions ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc of great finesse and intensity. For the 2019 Maya, fruit from the dedicated Maya block was harvested by hand between late September and early October, with rigorous selection in the vineyard and at the sorting table. Grapes were carefully destemmed and fermented slowly to extract fine tannins and complex aromatics, before the wine was aged for more than two years in top-tier French oak barrels, allowing the cuvée (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc) to gain depth, polish, and seamless integration.

Food & Serving
This is a grand, cellar-worthy Napa red best matched with equally refined cuisine: think dry-aged ribeye or côte de boeuf, roasted lamb with rosemary and garlic, venison or other game, or rich dishes like truffle-infused mushroom ragout and aged hard cheeses. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight its freshness and aromatic complexity. In its youth, decanting for 2–3 hours is recommended to allow the wine to fully open; as it matures, a shorter decant of 45–60 minutes will help release its most delicate tertiary notes.

Producer
Founded in 1982 by Naoko and Gustav Dalla Valle, Dalla Valle Vineyards quickly ascended to the elite ranks of Napa Valley, thanks to its exceptional hillside terroir and meticulous, small-scale approach. The estate gained international acclaim when its Cabernet Sauvignon received a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker in 1992—only the second Californian wine to achieve such a distinction at the time. Today, Dalla Valle is widely regarded as one of Napa’s benchmark producers, particularly for its flagship Maya bottling, which consistently showcases the estate’s mastery of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc and its significant role in defining the modern, world-class style of Napa Valley reds.

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