The 2014 Mayacamas 'Golden Hill' Cabernet Sauvignon is a distinguished red wine from the renowned Mayacamas Vineyards, situated in the esteemed Napa appellation of California's North Coast region. This wine, crafted from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, is notable for its unique sourcing from some of the highest-elevation vines on Mount Veeder, planted in 1989. The wine is bottled with a cork closure and carries an alcohol content of 14.0%.
The wine has garnered significant praise from several respected reviewers. James Suckling awarded it an impressive 98 points, describing it as a "one-off bottling of a special plot of old vines" and commending its "full body, dense and polished" nature. He highlighted its "beautiful presence and balance," noting that it is a tannic wine but “polished and textured” with "great length."
Vinous, through Antonio Galloni, also rated the wine at 98 points, emphasizing its "remarkable finesse and stunning beauty." Galloni pointed out the wine's "mid-palate depth and resonance," which set it apart from the standard Mayacamas Cabernet. He described it as a "vivid wine with breathtaking depth and complexity," declaring it "utterly thrilling from the first taste."
Decanter provided a score of 95 points, praising the wine for its "seductive, floral, powerful and constantly evolving" characteristics. The publication noted that the wine encapsulates the "dense, rustic and saline power" typical of Mount Veeder fruit and is expected to continue evolving over the next three decades, with a drinking window extending from 2020 to 2060.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, through Joe Czerwinski, gave the wine a 94-point rating, acknowledging its slightly developed scent of "cassis and damp, loamy earth." Czerwinski described the wine as "medium-bodied and streamlined in shape," with "silky tannins and crisp acids." He remarked that the wine is just entering its plateau of maturity and should continue to drink well for another 15 years.
In summary, the 2014 Mayacamas 'Golden Hill' Cabernet Sauvignon is a highly acclaimed wine, distinguished by its exceptional depth, complexity, and aging potential. The unanimous high scores from expert reviewers highlight its stature as a standout wine in its vintage.