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Tasting notes
Sweet tobacco, licorice, new leather, smoke and savory herbs meld together in the 1988 Maya. Now fully mature in its bouquet, the 1988 still has more than enough fruit and density to drink well for a handful of years, although I wouldn't push my luck. Dried orange peel, tobacco and wild flowers take on mature, Barolo-like overtones on the finish.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 1988 Maya, made from a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc, has a dense, very opaque black/purple color, a huge bouquet of super-ripe cassis, licorice, and vanillin aromas, followed by astonishingly intense, highly extracted, impeccably well-balanced, full-bodied flavors. The bad news is that only 200 cases were produced, so latching onto a bottle or two will not be easy. It should drink well over the next 20-25 years, probably longer.
About the producer
Dalla Valle Vineyards was founded in 1986 by Naoko and her late husband Gustav Dalla Valle, in Oakville. Initially they had wanted to create a luxury resort, but when they discovered the potential of the site, they changed tack and decided to make wine.