x
  • Country ranking ?

    169
  • Producer ranking ?

    13
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    now to 2025
  • Food Pairing

    Game

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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Dalla Valle Vineyards is a small, family-owned winery that was founded in 1986 by Gustav and Naoko Dalla Valle. The winery and vineyards are located on a plateau 400 feet above the valley floor, in the eastern hills of Oakville, Napa Valley. The combination of perfect sun exposure and the cooling marine influence from the Pacific Ocean make this an ideal site for world class winegrowing. Dalla Valle has reached an admirable level of acceptance in the last decade and produces some of the most sought out Cabernet Sauvignon and proprietary red wine in California. Wines made from Dalla Valle Vineyards are pure unbridled expressions of fruit at its most powerful and concentrated. These wines are of immense stature and richness with well-integrated tannin and acidity.

Gustav Dalla Valle was born and raised in Northern Italy. His family has been in the wine business for over 175 years.
In 1982, he returned to the wine business with his wife, Naoko and they purchased their Oakville property and created Dalla Valle Vineyards. Gustav’s exuberant personality touched many people in his lifetime. Gustav passed away in December of 1995.
Naoko Dalla Valle was born and raised in Kobe, Japan where her ancestors were involved in Sake making. Naoko and Gustav shared the vision of producing a world class wine. After Gustav’s death, Naoko took on the sole responsibility for the operations of the vineyards and the winery. She has put together a formidable team of vineyard and enology specialists. All grape growing and winemaking operations are under her insightful vision and the commitment to maintain and improve the highest quality continues.

Alluring and full of unmistakable pedigree, Dalla Valle Maya is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The wine was named after Gustav and Naoko's daughter Maya. Each year less than 500 cases of this graceful wine of refinement and rich elegance is produced. 1988 marks the first vintage of Maya.
 

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The Story

This jewel in the crown originates in the remarkable vineyard that shares its name. A proprietary blend aged in primarily new French oak, Maya showcases the site’s exceptional Cabernet Franc; it is graceful and alluring with an unmistakable pedigree. Fewer than 500 cases are produced each year.

The signature blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from our estate in Oakville, Maya is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Both of these varieties thrive on the iron-rich, rocky soils in the eastern hills of Oakville. Our aim is to find the right combination between the “Maya Block” of Cabernet Sauvignon, which consistently produces the most compelling wine on the estate, with Cabernet Franc growing in adjacent blocks, which adds a new and exciting dimension to the wine

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Wine Information

This 1992 wine 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. Destined to be a legendary wine.

The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc. 




 

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Tasting note

color

Deep, Ruby red and Bright

ending

Long, Flavorful and Spicy

nose

Complex, Opulent and Tempting

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, Balanced, Multi-dimensional, Complex, Perfumed, Dry and Silky tannins

Verdict

Impressive

Written Notes

In 1983, Gustav and Naoko Dalla Valle began planting vines on the hillside east of Oakville, overlooking Napa Valley. Their vineyards produce first-rate quality grapes, resulting wines of great structure, complexity and balance. Gustav passed away in 1995 and Naoko Dalla Valle, with winemaker Heidi Barrett, continues the legacy of Dalla Valle wines. Dalla Valle Vineyards produces two wines – the proprietary red wine Maya, named after the owners' daughter, and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Production at Dalla Valle has dropped from 1993, mainly because of the phylloxera damage to the vineyard, and the following replanting. The production in 1993 was around 40% less than that in 1992. The 1992 Maya is made of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc. Excellent bottle. Decanted two hours. Good, deep saturated red colour. This still very youthful wine offers up subtle but strikingly sweet blackberry fruit, oak, mineral, and spice aromas. Full-bodied, a powerful, firm intensity, a multi-layered texture and richness. Still quite tannic, nevertheless it is skilfully balanced, with a long, voluptuous finish. Although it is already more accessible than I would have thought, it is a good candidate for 10-20 years of maturation.
  • 96p
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Information

Origin

Oakville, Napa Valley

Vintage Quality

Outstanding

Inside Information

Wine Advocate #101
Oct 1995
Robert M. Parker, Jr. 100 Drink: 1999 - 2019 $750-$1098 (75)
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. Tel. (707) 944-2676
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