Standing as a testament that Cabernet Sauvignon can be rich, complex and luscious given the right location and growing conditions, this wine started on a quiet isolated Sonoma mountainside overlooking the Alexander Valley. Averaging over 1,000 feet off the valley floor, the Cabernet vineyards are just up the road from the Merlot site. Nestled precariously along the Mayacamas Mountains where the warm days are long and the nights are uncomfortably cool these low yielding vineyards produce diminutive grapes that are impressively intense in tannins and flavors. Small grapes are what we strive for as they offer less pulp and concentrate the flavors unique to this particular mountainous terroir. With additional aging, this alluring wine will continue to gain complexity and intrigue the senses for years to come.
Maylena is a Bordeaux blend based upon a simple belief—mountain and hillside regions of Sonoma County can offer world class wine given the meticulous combination of varietal character, impressive intensity and finesse. We follow a belief that a big, bold and full bodied red wine must also possess a soft, fruit-forward and elegant side. This is why Merlot is the foundation of Maylena 2008 vintage blend, leaning most assuredly against a strong Cabernet Sauvignon backbone. Merlot presents fruit-forward elegance while Cabernet provides the brawn and intensity. With just the right amount of each variety in the blend, the result is a harmoniously bold and balanced wine that will continue to age gently with grace.
This unique Pinot Noir was sourced from a small sustainably farmed hillside vineyard tucked between and noble Sonoma Mountain at 2,400 feet elevation and the Petaluma River. Planted in 1999, the intense and concentrated flavors evident in this wine are the result of low yields, small clusters and diminutive sized berries ripening at the latest possible time – a winning combination for a delicious Pinot! Fog and cool summers combined with the sandy loamy soil help to create wines from the unofficial region known as the Petaluma Gap with a distinct profile that can be described as elegant and velvety possessing a fresh acidity.