September 1999

El Nino, La Nina, El Loco? Yes, the weather is crazy, again (i.e. still). A bit of mid-summer rain is unusual, but not unheard of in these parts. But, for it to be a northwester, a cold, winter-like storm, that is rare indeed. Is an early winter, a big one, in store? Please call us right away if you know, it could be important!

Our 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1995 Pinot Noir, and, 1994 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc are now available. We are also re-releasing our 1987 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1991 Chardonnay.

The vintage of 1994 was very well regarded from the beginning, and many of its wines are still improving. That process goes in spades for our 1994 Cabernet. If consumed in the next 5 to 10 years, an hour or two of breathing, at least, is very much in order to allow fuller development of its aroma, bouquet and flavors. Full maturity for this wine will not be reached until sometime in the 2010 - 2020 decade. This assumes good storage conditions, of course. In addition to the usual complementary affinity of big red wines to red meats, this wine will also go very well with game, rich fowl, pastas and most other full flavored dishes.

While not usually as highly rated as 1994, the vintage of 1995 is often thought of as "tied for second" in regard to Pinot Noirs of recent years. Full ripeness in our grapes was matched by excellent acid and ph balance. The resulting wine is clean, crisp, abundantly fruity and, while eminently ageworthy, is highly enjoyable now, particularly with 30 minutes to an hour of breathing.

Late harvest wines are a labor of love (read insanity). The worse looking the grapes are (covered with botrytis mold), the better the wine. Resultant dehydration of the fruit means that the yield of juice, and therefore wine, is very low; less than half that of normal grapes. But, the wine can be a true delight. Our 1994 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc has subtle hints of apricot and honey, is smooth and ready now but will remain in top form for several more years.

I thought that the 1987 vintage was overrated with its high marks early on, but, I may be becoming a believer. Our 1987 Cabernet Sauvignon is beginning to show some very interesting character development. Complexity is the word that jumps to mind, for this wine is now revealing an abundance of nuances. Its many-faceted personna will grow for years to come and should peak around 2005.

The 1991 Mayacamas Chardonnay, now being re-released, is in its prime. Rich, viscous and deepening in hue, it shows well the benefits of our slow aging style. Mature Chardonnay has often been called the one wine that goes with anything and everything. Try it and see what you think.

Wonder of wonders, we have a web site (www.mayacamas.com). It seems as though we only got electricity up here a few weeks ago and now, the world wide whatever. All the information available on the internet is mind boggling, of course, and things like the many weather report and forecast sources are a godsend to us aviator-vintners. And the wine information, like just about everything, seems nearly infinite. But, while virtual this, that, and the other thing may be all well and good, I draw the line at virtual wine tasting. There are just some pleasures that no amount of electronic magic can substitute for. If requiring real wine with dinner puts me in the horse and buggy class, so be it. Just make sure my hay is properly seasoned to go with a glass of real vino.