1992 Dalla Valle, Maya, Napa Valley, D-Magnum (3L)

RP100 "The awesome 1992 Maya is performing better than the 1991 did at a similar stage. It reveals a saturated purple color, as well as an intense fragrance of black-raspberries, cassis, flowers, and minerals. The wine possesses great fruit, superb density, wonderful purity and balance, and a compelling extra dimension both aromatically and texturally. It is destined to be one of California's legendary wines." RP Oct 1995

LP100 "A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc, the 1992 Maya is medium to deep garnet-brick in color. Wow! - it offers up the most achingly fragrant nose of candied violets, Morello cherries, blueberry pie, and baker's chocolate followed by hints of tapenade, iron ore, and fennel seed. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers jaw-dropping intensity and tension, supported by very ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing epically long and perfumed." LPB for TWI Feb 2024

Robert Parker writes, "Dalla Valle has propelled itself into the top echelon of California Cabernet Sauvignon and proprietary red wines. The owners, Gustave and Naoko Dalla Valle, are admirably supported by winemaker Heidi Barrett (the wife of winemaker/proprietor Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena). This team is producing awesomely concentrated wines from their 25-acre hillside vineyard overlooking the Napa Valley floor. There is no secret to their success. The wines are made from fully ripened fruit, and are neither excessively processed nor handled. There are only 2,000 cases of the Cabernet Sauvignon. The microscopic production of Dalla Valle's proprietary red wine, Maya (named after the proprietors' daughter), usually contains between 45-55% Cabernet Franc. I am not overstating the case by saying that the finest Cabernet Franc I have tasted in the New World is from Dalla Valle's vineyard." Published: Dec 22, 1994