Mayacamas Vineyards Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 750ml

The finest vintage of this cuvée I've tasted, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is going to be one of the Legendary Mayacamas, although a more modern-day version. Sporting a vivid ruby, mostly opaque hue as well as sensational aromatics of crème de cassis, ripe cherries, graphite, crayon, and cedar pencils, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, flawless overall balance, ultra-fine, ripe, perfect tannins, and a great finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. The balance, purity, and elegance paired with the subtle, inward richness and power is something. I followed this bottle for multiple days, and it was never short of spectacular, with its structure and tannins becoming more evident with air. It's far from the tannic beast that some vintages from this higher elevation terroir on Mount Veeder can be, and it clearly offers immense pleasure even today. Yet, it probably won't hit true prime time for another decade, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this be a 50- to 60-year wine. Bravo. Drink 2030-2080.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignor is a pretty rich, bombastic wire, especially for Mayacamas. A blast of dark fruit, incense, tobacco, licorice, spice and mocha hits the palate. I would give the 2019 at least a few years in bottle to settle down, as it is quite the powerhouse today. This is an unusually flamboyant wire with plenty of richness and a bit less in the way of subtlety. The opulence of the vintage comes through loud and clear. (Antonio Galloni)

Hints of sweet bay leaf and chaparral offer an alluring lead in, while the core mixes red and black currant and cherry compote notes with tobacco leaf and cast iron, backed by a piercing sanguine hint. The fruit cuts a seriously sharp groove through the long, tannin- and acid-driven finish. Should age at a glacial pace. Best from 2028 through 2045. 2,110 cases made.

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulous. It's vivid and super-classic to the core, offering up an exotic mélange of dark fruit, espresso, dried herbs, iron, forest floor and incense. The 2021 is a quintessential mountain wine from Mt. Veeder, but there's just enough polish to wrap it all together while avoiding any sense of rusticity.

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. (James Molesworth)

A creamy texture surrounds pretty floral and black fruit flavors in this elegant, poised wine. It escaped the vintage's smoke effects, and offers pure blackcurrant and black cherry flavors that expand on the palate and linger in the finish. Medium- to full-bodied. Made from 100% cabernet sauvignon. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now but best from 2029.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon remains true to the winery’s historic style, offering complex notes of dried herbs and mixed berries, carried across the palate by a wine that’s medium-bodied, crisp and somewhat lean by modern Napa standards. It finishes long and dusty, promising well for the future. (Joe Czerwinski)

<p>The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the wines of this very challenging harvest. Dark and imposing, the 2020 is packed with black fruit, cloves, leather, menthol, chocolate and dried herbs. This is an especially dense, potent Cabernet. There is some aggressiveness to the tannins, but that is the vintage. Overall, this is impeccably done, especially within the context of the year.</p> (Antonio Galloni)

Coming from an incredibly challenging year marked by devastating fires, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is nevertheless a beautiful wine. Offering ripe black fruits intermixed with smoky herbs, graphite, and cedar pencils, it has medium-bodied richness, a pure, focused mouthfeel, firm yet integrated tannins, and outstanding length. This structured, Bordeaux-like effort is unquestionably a success in the vintage and should benefit from another 2-3 years of bottle age and shine over the following decade or so. It will be interesting to see if the fruit holds up to the tannins here when all is said and done. Drink 2028-2042.

This is zesty and lively, with good energy (especially for a '20) to the mix of bramble, sweet bay and chaparral notes liberally infusing its core of black currant and bitter plum fruit. Taut and structured, with a cast iron note bolting through the finish. Needs some time to settle in but is loaded with character and nicely done for the vintage. Best from 2027 through 2037.

The grapes for Mayacamas's 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon were harvested between September 5th and 16th, well before the Glass Fire. To mitigate any possible smoke exposure from the LNU Complex Fires, the fruit was rinsed, maceration times were shortened, and the press wine was kept separate (and ultimately mostly bulked out). The results speak for themselves, as the wine offers up clean cassis, cherries and blueberries, plus hints of sage and cracked pepper. It's medium to full-bodied and firmly built, with dusty tannins on the finish.