1978 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
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Provenance matters. This bottle was stunning! Power, austerity, grace, and complexity are what you find in the non-stop waves of blackberries, currants, tobacco leaf, tart cherries, wet forest floor, and spice. The chewy fruit hits all the right notes with its balance between sweet and tart. This was simply a stunning example of classic California Cabernet Sauvignon at its peak. Drink from 2023-2030.
Critic scores
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon is quite simply one of the greatest Napa Valley wines I have ever tasted. Dark, powerful and explosive, the 1978 captivates all the senses with intense dark fruit, tobacco, smoke, cedar and licorice. Utterly mesmerizing from the very first taste, the 1978 shows no signs of fading. The firm tannins ensure another decade-plus of magical drinking. Readers fortunate enough to own well-stored bottles are in for an extraordinary drinking experience on a par with any wine from anywhere in the world. It's as simple as that. The 1978 remains a testament to the genius of Bob Travers and this rugged hillside site on Mt. Veeder. Here, too, provenance is everything.