Wine Advisor
Dalla Valle, Maya 2014
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2014 Maya is powerful, compact and closed in on itself. That's not much of a surprise given the wine was just bottled a few months ago. Dark, powerful and intense, the 2014 offers plenty of energy, but is also holding back much of its potential at this stage. The blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc, which is to say more Cabernet than has been the norm in recent years. There is plenty of intensity to the pomegranate, plum, red cherry and blood orange flavors, but the wine needs time to come into its own.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2014 Maya is gorgeous. Deep, layered and totally harmonious, the 2014 is simply striking in its beauty. Layers of spice open up first, followed by luscious dark cherry, plum, mocha and dark chocolate. The 2014 is shaping up nicely, although it is very early for this notoriously slow-to-mature wine.
About the Producer
Dalla Valle Vineyards is a small, family-run winery established in 1986. The first vintage, Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon, was produced that same year, and in 1988 the famous Dalla Valle Maya was produced. （Dalla Valle Maya.) Naoko, the owner, managed the estate independently after the death of her husband and Michel Rolland, the French winemaker, regularly advises on the winemaking and blending proportions of the estate. The 8.5 hectares of vineyard at Dalla-Valle are made up of red clay, volcanic gravel and clay soils that are well drained, hard and dense, which means that the growers have a lot of work to do during the vine growing period. The vineyard is located on the eastern slopes of Oakville and enjoys the right amount of light, while the cool breeze from San Francisco Bay keeps the vineyard cool. The vineyard is situated 400 feet from the valley floor, where light and temperature can vary considerably. The quality of the soil and the right amount of light and temperature allow for small yields in this vineyard, averaging around 1-1.5 tons per acre. The grapes have a complex flavour profile, with a good concentration of tannins and good colour. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grow well in this vineyard. Dara-Valle produces two types of wine: Dara-Valle Cabernet Sauvignon red and Dara-Valle Maya. Dara-Valle Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Cabernet Franc, then aged in 50%-60% new oak barrels. Annual production is around 2,000 cases. Dara Valle Maya is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the Maya vineyard, with fermentation taking place in stainless steel vats and malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels, before the wine is aged in 70-80% new French oak barrels. Maya produces around 500 cases a year and sells for a high price, around $300 per bottle.
