We publish a newsletter twice a year to discuss Mayacamas happenings and announce new wine releases. Below is the September, 2010 edition. To view our other newsletters, click here.

Vol. II No. 88April, 2011

The way the planet has been shaking lately, in so many ways, well, conditions could induce even the most resolute among us to stagger. Yet I am reminded that the vines up here on the mountain produce the most concentrated fruit---which in turn makes for the best wine---when growing conditions are at their very toughest, where soils are rockiest, where hillsides are severe and steep. Winter is at an end; it's springtime again, and that means have a new release of wines for sale.

The 2008 Sauvignon Blanc is adamantine in its precision. It is as fruit-focused in the mid-palate as any S.B. we've made. A crisp, bright edge and persistent, generous fruit define this wine.

The 2008 Chardonnay is equally concentrated and crisply delineated. The combination of ripe banana peel, effervescent lemon, pineapple tart and a hint of peaches, backed by the subtlest vanilla, will be familiar, as will the fresh acidity.

The 2007 Pinot Noir is now for sale. We've waited for two years to release another Pinot Noir, simply because we didn't believe either the '05 or the '06 vintages were on the level of quality we wanted. This one is. Rich, red cherries, raspberries, roasted almonds, and volcanic earth are encased within a fine, delicate structure. This is the only Mount Veeder Pinot Noir made.

Our 2006 Merlot is highly acclaimed. Its red cherries and star anise open into vibrant plum and mulberry. This is a classic Merlot, with just a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, balanced in terms of fruit, acid, and tannin in such a way that its future looks very bright. Complex already, and one to keep.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is a profound expression of our vineyards, with deep black cherries, blackberries, dried currant-like fruit, and a hint of cranberry character. It is a generous, gracefully balanced wine that will improve for many years to come.

The Library Cabernet is now the 1999. It is an excellent example of how our Cabernets transform over their first 12 years---it has evolved into a more complex, more sophisticated version of itself. Its secondary characteristics of pine needles, mushroom, and mineral essence have come forward to compliment the primary black cherry, blackberry, and bramble notes. Great now, it is still getting better, and seems poised to be one of the greats from our place over time.

The Library Merlot is the 1998. This has always been an underrated vintage; and this very fine wine shows a lot of character. Well-integrated tannins back up the red Bing cherry, blackberry, black tea leaf, and a pine-needle-earthiness. It is still very vibrant and fresh, and is a delightful expression of mature mountain Merlot.

We'd like to remind you that our Wine Club is a good way to enjoy discounts on Mayacamas wines, get more access to our older wines, and there's the annual Mayacamas Wine Club Fiesta here at the winery for members as well, with the promise of live music, home-cooked food, and a nice array of beverages from a (very) nearby old stone winery. And the main point: Wine Club members get two shipments of our wines per year, each selected for current drinkability by committee, namely The Old Man and your humble correspondent. Check out our web site for details: www.mayacamas.com

Here's to appreciating the tough soils and rocky slopes, from which the best wines often come.

Cheers,
Chris Travers