2018 Maybach Materium Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

FOURTEENTH RELEASE of Maybach Materium, sourced from a single block of Weitz Vineyard, 1000 feet above the Silverado Trail on the eastern hillside of Oakville. The vines here struggle to grow in shallow soil among boulders and stones, resulting in a deeply concentrated, elegantly textured Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. TASTING NOTES This represents the 15th vintage we’ve been associated with Weitz Vineyard. Crazy, given it feels like just yesterday I met Chris Maybach and he mentioned having access to this site. I knew exactly where he was talking about and though we made a cursory visit to walk the vineyard and discuss the beginning of the project, we were in as soon as we received the offer. A+ fruit like this doesn’t come along very often especially to a brand new project. We’ve run out of superlatives to describe wines from this property. It has been so consistently great throughout the years even with its very distinctive personality. There are a few wines I’m responsible for every year that stand out blind in any line up. Picking wines in that format has never been a strong suit for me but here it’s easy. There’s something so unique about this bottling. It starts with the white flower, peppery, vanilla-tinged aromatic. If we didn’t know better, we’d swear there was a little Cabernet Franc mixed in with the Cabernet in this 3 acre hilltop block. The sweet black and purple fruits jump start the palate until the acidity of the site kicks in adding cut and a broad, ethereal feel that’s uncommon in hillside Napa Cabernet. The acidity keeps the mouthfeel juicy and fresh. The real complexity kicks in on the finish with blackcurrant liqueur, crushed rock, milk chocolate, cassis, blueberries and smoke all balanced by a streak of minerality that extends through the whole palate experience. This edition of Materium easily competes with all the great vintages that have come before it. — Thomas Brown, Winemaker