2019 Materium Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Sourced from the hilly, eastern side of Oakville, about 1,000 feet above the Silverado Trail, the 2019 Materium Cabernet Sauvignon boasts aromas of kaleidoscopic complexity, with shifting floral notes joined by mocha, cassis, black raspberry ice cream, vanilla and cedar. Marry those whirling tones in the mouth with a wine that's full-bodied, rich, velvety and long on the finish, and lucky drinkers are in for a full-throttle pleasure ride that should be toned down but still exciting in two decades' time.
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Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
If you can believe it, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium might be even better, and this beauty tops out my scale. An incredible array of red, blue, and black fruits as well as unsmoked tobacco, iron, hazelnut, and toasty oak all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, ultra-fine, building texture, perfect tannins, and a huge finish. This pure Napa Valley magic is going to benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar and drink brilliantly for another 20-30 years. If this doesn't do it for you, I'd avoid Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon!
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Ecotone, from what was previously known as the Thorevilos Vineyard, offers a balanced, elegant, already complex style with notes of redcurrants, sappy flowers, and cedarwood. More savory earth and chocolate notes show with time in the glass, and this rich, nicely concentrated Cabernet delivers mouth-coating tannins as well as plenty of length. I don’t think it has the purity or vibrancy of the other two barrel samples, but there’s no denying this is a beautiful wine. I suspect short-term cellaring will be your friend, and I can’t imagine it not evolving gracefully for 20 years or more.
About the producer
Founded in 2004 by Chris Maybach, Maybach Family Vineyards honors a family legacy of quality and artistry dating back over a century to the creation of the Maybach automobile. Determined to bring that same excellence to winemaking, Chris partnered with acclaimed Napa winemaker Thomas Brown.