Maze Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018
“The year is young and it is important to make good decisions… choices that will set you up for a successful year to come.” - Mom (in her yearly “Happy New Year’s” phone call)
Sure, I was rolling my eyes at the time, but Mom always doles out sound advice. Case in point...would you rather get this exceptional, STAGECOACH CABERNET, from the stupendous 2018 Napa vintage, via a big box store (like, let’s say, Total Wine & More), for the solid price of $99.99...or...OR!!! From your favorite wine slingers at Last Bottle...at the MIND-MELTING price of $35 (P.S. – not a “what if” situation...that is actually the case)?!
From us, right? Good call! OK. Deep breath ‘cause here we go. 100% cab, 100% French oak, 100% Stagecoach Vineyard. Yes, THAT Stagecoach Vineyard – the one and only, set on a pristine plateau of red volcanic soil, a veritable AVA unto itself, connecting the hallowed ground of Pritchard Hill with the structure beast that is Atlas Peak. Wineries throughout Napa and Sonoma literally pay for the privilege of using this vineyard designation on the label...MAZE did not, which is honestly the ONLY reason this isn’t selling for $175/bottle. But all the pedigree is there, the power and grace of one of Napa’s preeminent sites. This luxurious beast of a wine is rich, concentrated (and did we mention powerful), with tons of deep, opulent plum and berry fruits. Inky, chocolatey texture that is one part liquid velvet, and two parts cherry liqueur. And spice...black pepper, clove, anise, scorched earth...all Hedonism, all the live-long day. Just wicked, opulent magic juice that has me craving grilled skirt steak. Has the muscle to age for another decade or two, but man, I just don’t think I can hold out! SO GOOD...NOW!
Very, very little of this. Screaming cab deals don’t come around often enough... While it lasts!
"One-hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stagecoach Vineyard. Aged in 100% new French Oak, the 2018 MAZE has a very deep garnet-purple color and offers a vibrant black cherry, redcurrant and black berry-scented nose with an undercurrent of cassis, oolong tea, fragrant soil and bay leaves plus a waft of lilacs. The palate is full bodied with a fantastically firm frame of ripe grainy tannins and amazing tension with the taut, muscular fruit, finishing very long and layered."
Technical Details
Country: United StatesRegion: California
Appellation: Napa Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard: Stagecoach Vineyard
Aging/Cooperage: 100% new French oak
Alcohol: 15.30%
About The Producer
"During a career spent in Media, Gerry McSharry spent many happy years entertaining friends and prospective clients in some of the world’s finest restaurants. Whilst building his business, he developed his love affair with fine quality wines and a lifelong interest in Oenology. Upon his retirement from Media, Gerry, along with his son Paul, started a wine importation business in Ireland. They developed a small, but exquisite portfolio of boutique international wines previously unavailable in Ireland.
Paul, however, held a wider dream of being in the Winery, working in the Vineyards and learning the complete craft of winemaking. In 2009, he travelled to the Napa Valley and was able to make that dream a reality. He found himself in the extremely fortunate position of meeting and working alongside celebrated Winemaker Mark Herold, and there, between Paul, Gerry and Mark acting as consultant, MAZE Wines was born. The inaugural vintage saw only 220 cases of MAZE Cabernet Sauvignon produced, and slowly but surely, production has grown over the years to include a single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from Knights Valley and the extremely limited production CLEW from two small vineyards in Coombsville.
2017 marked another chapter in the MAZE Wines story, as Mike Hirby joined us as Consultant Winemaker. We are delighted to have blended our 2016 wines with Mike and look forward to many years of great winemaking with him. His understanding of our philosophy and our mutual love of making great wines with fantastic raw materials can only be a great omen of things to come!"
Don't miss out on up to
Off Great Wines
Your daily purveyor of fine wines.
We’re wine drinkers, collectors, and part of the global wine trade. Mostly, we are totally stoked to bring you incredible juice at the best prices we can possibly obtain, every day.
Sign Up for FREE