In Napa there are well known wineries, and then there are a few that have reached iconic status. Dalla Valle is one of those, and with good reason. One of their secret weapons is their Cabernet Franc, which expresses itself in the 2015 Maya. According to winemaker Andy Erickson, it is the Franc that is the showpiece. “It has structure that is incredibly complimentary to the Cabernet Sauvignon, but it also brings this wonderful energy and an exciting aromatic complexity to Maya that make it extraordinary.” The blend is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest being Cabernet Franc, all estate fruit of course, and it was aged 22 months in all French oak, 65% of that being new oak barrels. It offers blueberry, blackberry, black cherry, raspberry and back notes of mocha, pomegranate, and graphite. It’s not merely the velvety, literally sensual, feel of the wine, it’s the stunning balance of oak, fruit, tannins and acidity that almost defies description because it is so seamless. True, we use words to describe how a wine tastes, but that does little to actually convey the amazing experience itself. This is one such wine where words fail but where drinking the 2015 Maya itself is transcendent.
ORIGIN: Oakville, Napa Valley
ALCOHOL: 14.2%
PRICE: $425 /750 ml
SCORE: 98 POINTS