Mayacamas Winery, Napa Valley: 10 Sensational Wines (2024), Winemaking

Situated on the high slopes of Mount Veeder between Napa Valley and Sonoma County, the Mayacamas Winery has been crafting phenomenal wines since the 1880s.

Known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Mayacamas wines are fragrant, have a powerful structure, and have long aging potential.

This article will look at the vineyards, winemaking techniques, incredible history,and 10 exceptional wines from the Mayacamas Winery.

The Vineyards Of Mayacamas Winery 

The Mayacamas vineyards are over 130 years old and are situated 1800 to 2400 feet above the Napa Valley floor - making them the highest in Napa. 

The upper part of the vineyard is reserved for Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. The lower vineyards are planted with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Grenache grape varietals. 

The bulk of the grape varietals used for their wines are from their vineyard, but some varietals are purchased from neighboring Mt. Veeder vineyard sites. 

The Mayacamas vineyard has the longest growing season and generates a smaller yield than other Napa Valley and Sonoma vineyards. This is because of the high altitude, cooler mountain days, warmer evenings, and nutrient-deficient soils.

Phil Coturri, a renowned viticulturist,implements organic viticulture to regenerate the soil and replant grape varietals in each vineyard. 

Let’s take a look at the winemaking at this Napa Valley winery.

Winemaking At Mayacamas Winery

The A-list winemaking team of Mayacamas Winery includes  Braiden Albrecht,  who learned the art of winemaking from consulting winemaker Andy Erickson. 

Winemaker Andy Erickson is synonymous with Screaming Eagle, one of the most reputed Napa Valley wine brands. 

This winery uses traditional winemaking techniques to produce its exquisite wines. 

• Grapes are harvested early and destemmed to preserve the bright acidity and freshness. 

• Mayacamas uses gravity flow in the cellar, and the juice flows into a combination of concrete, open-top, stainless steel fermentation tanks. This fermentation style lessens oxygenation, preserves grape characteristics, and maintains a strong tannic structure.

• After some time, the wine is transferred to foudres (large wooden casks), dating back to the 1920s.  

Their uniqueness lies in the fact that these wines aren’t as rich or heavily oaked as other Napa Cabernets.

Want to get your hands on a bottle from this winery?

Top 10 Wines To Taste At Mayacamas Winery

Here is a rundown of the ten outstanding wines from the Mayacamas winery: 

• 1968 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1968 Mayacamas Vineyards Late Harvest Zinfandel 
• 1973 Mayacamas Vineyards Zinfandel
• 2014 Mayacamas Vineyards 'Golden Hill' Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1997 Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay
• 1998 Mayacamas Vineyards Merlot
• 2013 Mayacamas Vineyards 'The Terraces' Chardonnay
• 2012 Mayacamas Vineyards Merlot
• 2010 Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay
• 2004 Mayacamas Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

1. 1968 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt. Veeder, USA ($3750)

This Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon opens up with aromas of pipe tobaccos, red fruit ripe cherries, and crisp herbs. Its old-school earthy tannin makes you feel like you're sipping it in a cigar lounge. 

2. 1968 Mayacamas Vineyards Late Harvest Zinfandel, Napa Valley, USA ($775) 

This Napa Valley wine opens up with a marvelous blend of intense spices, sweet plum fruit with almonds, and red licorice. This Mayacamas wine has a yummy palate with raspberry juice, ripe berry, and dried fig notes. 

3. 1973 Mayacamas Vineyards Zinfandel, Napa Valley, USA ($495)

This is truly an elegant wine made from the juicy Zinfandel vine in Amador County.  Still incredibly vibrant with rich aromas and tasting notes of fruit and a smooth and persistent finish. 

4. 2014 Mayacamas Vineyards 'Golden Hill' Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, USA ($283)

This Cabernet Sauvignon is loaded with mountain fruits and herbs. This Napa Cab has gorgeous tasting notes of ginger spice, dark chocolate, marshmallows, blackberry, and black tea on the palate.

5. 1997 Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay, Mount Veeder, USA ($213)

The Mayacamas Chardonnay has a pristine palate of sweet vanilla butter, pears, lemon tang, hazelnuts, and toast. 

6. 1998 Mayacamas Vineyards Merlot, Mt. Veeder, USA ($160)

This wine has tasting notes of blue fruit, black cherry, oak, and spice on the palate. This gorgeous Merlot finishes with notes of plums, cherry tart, vanilla butter, and hints of cedar. 

7. 2013 Mayacamas Vineyards 'The Terraces' Chardonnay, Mount Veeder, USA ($113)

This Mayacamas Chardonnay opens up with floral aromas and notes of raw nuts, minerals, and lemon zest.This is a powerful Chardonnay with bright acidity and notes of fresh herbs, lemon oil, and toasted nuts. 

8. 2012 Mayacamas Vineyards Merlot, Mount Veeder, USA ($93)

This Mayacamas wine has elegant aromas of earthy tones, dried flowers, wet cigars, and fruits. You have delicious tasting notes of sweet spices, red fruit, and plums on the palate.

9. 2010 Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay, Mount Veeder, USA ($82)

This savory Chardonnay opens up with fruit, banana, lychee, and lemon notes. This wine has white figs and pear, tangy apples, and bright acidity on the palate.

10. 2004 Mayacamas Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, California, USA ($30)

The 2004 Sauvignon Blanc has sweet pineapple and coconut with green apple and floral notes. This legendary California Wine has tasting notes of pineapple and apple fruit tones on the palate.  

Let’s see if these gorgeous Napa Valley wines are a good choice for a wine investment portfolio.

Should You Add Mayacamas Wines To Your Collection? 

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Wine quality is exceptional at Mayacamas Vineyard, and the red wines can be held for up to 20 years after the vintage.

Not only has this California wine outshined French wine at the Judgement of Paris 1986, but the recent vintages have also wooed top wine critics: 

• The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder stood at no. 4 on Wine Spectator's most exciting wines of 2020. 

• The 2020 Mayacamas Sauvignon Blanc was praised in Forbes as "a vibrant, immediately appealing wine, food-friendly with excellent acidity and concentration, and impeccable balance.” The column also featured Mayacamas Grenache Rosé 2020 as a summertime star. 

These wines have exceptional price appreciation too. 2000 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder grew from $249 to $347, that's a 40% spike (2020 - 2021.) 

Let’s take a look at how this stunning California winery got started.

A Brief Look Into The History Of Mayacamas Winery

The Mayacamas winery was built by winemaker JH Fisher in 1889 and has been managed by several other owners since. 

After Fisher, British chemist Jack Taylor and his wife Mary bought the property in 1906, and they started building on the legacy of Mayacamas. 

After the Taylors, Robert Travers bought the winery, and legendary California winemaker Joe Heitz (Heitz Cellars) started producing stunning Napa Cab varietal wines. 

In 2013, the present owner of the winery, retail entrepreneur Jay Schottenstein took over and has produced the most in-demand wines of California since then. 

Add A Marvellous Mayacamas To Your Collection

The Mayacamas Winery has stuck to its rich legacy and has been gaining the traction it deserves. These California wines deserve to be added to your wine tasting bucket list and your collection.  

You can visit the tasting room at Mayacamas Vineyard to buy the delicious Mayacamas library wines. 

Easier still - you can use a reliable online wine investment platform like Vinovest. Vinovest is a global player in the wine market that helps you build a wine portfolio with just a few clicks.