WTN: 1989 Mayacamas

Quite tired when I got home Friday, after 2 late nights in a row. Just a quiet night of leftovers (beef, root vegetable tian, salad); I decided to open a bottle of Cabernet I had brought up as a possible Christmas bottle rather than lug it back down to cellar. The 1989 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa) showing a worrying green streak upon opening, this wasn't the best Napa vintage. But the herb/bell notes receded rather quickly, leaving behind a nice old-school CalCab. Good acids, red berry and currant fruit, a bit of tobacco leave, some earth. Resolved tannins, fairly fresh, good length. Ready to drink, but enough acidic backbone I'm in no hurry for other bottle. B+/B

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.
 
edited to replace "Quite" with "quiet"

Dale,
I have a bottle of the 1992 of this wine. I took it to Mo'Cool this past August and somehow it never got opened, so I Lugged it back home. A trip I suspect much longer than the one back to your cellar. Wondered if you have experience with the 92 which was also not a best Napa vintage.

Thanks for the note. Back in the day, Mayacamas certainly made some of the most age-worthy Cab in Cali.

Jason

Bob,
I haven't had the '92, sorry.

Jason,
does that imply that you don't think that is the case anymore? This is the youngest Mayacamas CS I have (I think I have recent Merlot and Chard), but I know John Gilman thinks they still make ageworthy Cab.

Jason,
does that imply that you don't think that is the case anymore? This is the youngest Mayacamas CS I have (I think I have recent Merlot and Chard), but I know John Gilman thinks they still make ageworthy Cab.

No implication here, just no experience. I can only speak of the 73, 76 and 79 all of which are still outstanding. I thought there was a change in the mid 70s I really don't know the history, but they certainly went off the radar in the 80s/90s, I wonder if it was just a fashion thing and the wines are still of the same quality. The 70s wines are tannic beasts and could be easily misunderstood and/or just not what the public and reviewers are looking for.

Jason