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theCompass mobile application is a winery, brewery, and distillery locator for North America. |
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Mayacamas Vineyards
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Mayacamas Vineyards is a wine estate located in the Mayacamas Mountains which divide the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. The old stone winery is perched on the edge of a dormant volcano crater, near the top of Mt. Veeder. Fifty two acres of vineyards are planted on mountain sides ranging from 1,800 to 2,400 feet above sea level. Deer, eagles, coyotes and an occasional bear still inhabit this rugged terrain. For many centuries, the land at Mayacamas was inhabited by the Wappo Indians, stone age hunters and gatherers. Spear points and stone implements from their civilization are still occasionally recovered from the vineyards. The first white settlers came to Mayacamas in the 1860’s. They were sheepherders who built the still existing barn. Little is known of their rugged existence. The winery was built in 1889 by John Henry Fisher, a German immigrant, who first worked as a sword engraver in Philadelphia and then became a pickle merchant in San Francisco. The winery was also used by his family as a summer home and as a ranch to raise and care for the horses he used to deliver pickles to his clients in San Francisco. He sold his wine by the barrel. The barrels were loaded onto horse drawn wagons, driven fifteen miles to the Napa River, and then transferred to ferry boats which took the wine to San Francisco where it was bottled and sold. Soon after the turn of the century, the Fishers declared bankruptcy. The winery officially fell into disuse, although bootleggers are said to have made wine in the old stone cellar. During the late 1920s and 1930’s the Henry Brandlin family, some of whom still live in the area, owned the property. Then in 1941 Jack and Mary Taylor bought the land. They restored the winery, turned the old stone distillery into their home, and chose to name the restored estate Mayacamas Vineyards. In 1968, the winery was purchased by its present owners, Robert and Elinor Travers. Under their direction, aging facilities have been enlarged, neighboring land has been purchased, and vineyard clearing, planting and replanting are an ongoing process. In addition to Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, small blocks of Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Franc are grown. Monday through Friday we schedule visits to the winery. To make an appointment, please contact us. We distribute our wines throughout the United States and internationally. If you would like to be on our semi-annual newsletter mailing list, please let us know your mailing address.
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1989 Cabernet Sauvignon
The depth and richness of older Cabernets vary from year to year, but they are often astonishingly intricate yet together wines when fully developed. The 1989 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon is just entering those prime years. It will remain in good form for several more years but there is no need to wait. The blend of 3% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc gives it a balance and dimension that enhance the already great appeal of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape.
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Cabernet Sauvignon
A highly regarded vintage, this 1999 Cabernet is rich and youthfully earthy with deep aromas and flavors of dark fruit. As usual, we have blended a little Cabernet Franc and Merlot into the Cabernet Sauvignon, about 2% each for this vintage. It is best to aerate this wine for at least an hour, if consuming it before 2010, for full flavor and texture development.
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Chardonnay
This Chardonnay has a subtle floral and citrus nose with the richness of ripe fruit. Tasting reveals deep flavors, a slight oak component and a long, complex finish, with hints of almond and tropical flora, but still steely and firm.
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Chardonnay
Winemaker's Comments: This fine vintage is a classical, slow-developing Mayacamas Chardonnay. No winery manipulations to alter the flavor and no heavy oak. The mountain vineyards do the talking. It is in its prime and should remain in top form for at least three or four more years. The usual smooth viscosity and rich flavors of full maturity are in clear evidence. Enjoy with anything worth eating.
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Merlot
This Merlot has a rich cherry and cassis nose. Tasting shows a light herbal complex in the flavor mix with an intensity rarely seen these days, particularly in Merlot.
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Sauvignon Blanc
Clear straw color, typical Mayacamas fruit and slight grass nose. Tart, lemony front flavors with a rich, viscous complex fruit mix on the mid-palate and in the finish. Hints of pippin apple linger on the tongue.
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