Named after Naoko and Gustav Dalla Valle’s daughter—now the estate’s winemaker—Maya is the flagship wine and one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated cult bottlings. First produced in 1988, it quickly earned international acclaim when the 1992 vintage received a perfect 100-point score from Robert Parker—the first time a woman-led Napa estate achieved that honor. Sourced from a prized east-facing block on the estate’s volcanic hillside, the wine has always reflected the power and pedigree of Cabernet Sauvignon complemented by the aromatic lift and finesse of Cabernet Franc. Deep ruby-purple in the glass, the 2022 Maya shows focused notes of blackberry, plum skin, violets, graphite, and hints of spice and cocoa. Full bodied yet finely structured, it balances layered tannins, lifted acidity, and a mineral thread with power, purity, and elegance in classic Dalla Valle style.

Dalla Valle Vineyards, perched 500 feet above the Silverado Trail in Oakville, offers sweeping views of the Napa Valley floor. This extraordinary site, with its red volcanic soil and lingering sunlight, was purchased by Naoko and Gustav Dalla Valle in 1982, just before their daughter Maya was born. Now Maya leads the winemaking, having refined her skills at top Bordeaux estates. Although Dalla Valle has long been a standout, Maya is brilliantly guiding the estate into its next chapter.-K. Laz