Dalla Valle Maya 2018

Producer Tasting Notes

The profile of the wine is buttoned-up but complex, showing notes of Bing cherry, clove, pencil lead and gravel, in addition to hints of bay leaf and vanilla. The list of descriptors continues to grow with time in the glass, and the intensity on the palate makes it clear that this will go down as one of the vintages of the decade.

Vineyard Notes

Located on the famed eastern hillsides of Oakville, at elevations reaching 450 feet, it is a site that effortlessly straddles the line between a valley floor and a mountain vineyard. While a predominantly western aspect provides the vines plentiful sunshine, constant breezes off the San Pablo Bay bring a cooling influence that helps the grapes retain lovely natural acidity. Dalla Valles distinctive mineral-rich volcanic soils provide excellent drainage and just the right amount of stress for the vines to yield profoundly complex and concentrated grapes. The vineyard is tended by a dedicated vineyard team, with a focus on winegrowing, as opposed to grape growing. In keeping with the sustainably minded, multigenerational approach that guides Dalla Valle, the vineyard has been farmed organically since 2007 and is Certified Organic by the CCOF. Beginning in 2019, the team has shifted to biodynamic farming.

Winemaking

The 2018 vintage fermented and aged without intervention and bottled without filtration. We feel that these low-impact winemaking techniques, along with organic and biodynamic farming practices, bring added life to the wine.

Ageing

22 Months, 100% New French Oak.