2009 Maybach Amoenus

Maybach Family Vineyards in Oakville is named after the family’s early 20th century patriarch, Wilhelm Maybach, a German inventor who, with his business partner Gottleib Daimler, designed and built the first Mercedes automobiles. Maybach was inducted into Detroit’s Automotive Hall of Fame in 1996. Now some of his descendants are making a single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from a hillside vineyard above the Silverado Trail. Called Materium, the 100% Cab has earned praise from Robert M. Parker Jr., among others, who calls it “serious wine.” Fewer than 500 cases are produced annually. Thomas Brown is winemaker at Maybach. The estate also makes Sonoma Coast Chardonnay with a Burgundian style, and Pinot Noir.

Calistoga AVA is one of Napa Valley’s newer appellations, having been given appellation status in 2010. It is notable for its volcanic soil, which is unusual in the Napa Valley. Calistoga also experiences the greatest average 24-hour temperature swing of any Napa Valley AVAs, which Calistoga grape growers insist give the grapes time to “cool down” at night, making for better balanced wines. The 1,500 Calistoga vineyard acres are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah, along with smaller amounts of other varietals. Calistoga is at the northern end of Napa Valley, northwest of the Diamond District and St. Helena AVAs. Longtime winemaker Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena, which is located in the Calistoga AVA, proposed the creation of the appellation.