Tom Wark here. I’ve done the marketing for Mayo Family Winery since 1997. In that time, I’ve probably tasted 60 different wines produced by Mayo. Here’s the thing. About 2000 Jeff Mayo decided to pull all his wines from distributors, opened a couple tasting rooms and decided to go 100% direct. Pretty ballsy move really.
Anyway, since then we’ve been doing nothing but small batch bottlings from Napa and Sonoma, usually around 200 cases each—about 25 separate bottlings each vintage.
So, I’ll be jumping in and out of here for the next 24 hours answering any questions you have or just jabbering along with you.
Hope you take advantage of this offer. I think you’ll be very pleased.
I was just at the Mayo tasting room a few weeks ago. They have a very lively pourer gal there, makes for a great experience! I did not take detailed notes of the wines I tasted, but I do remember the majority being very new world; big, lush, ripe wines. The Zin in particular was especially ripe and had some RS. Tom or Jeff, can you comment on the %RS and age-ability of these wines?
Hmmm, maybe. I do have rather a bit too much wine.
In past years, after D&D, I’ve tried to visit your main tasting room, and have never been disappointed.
By the by, some of us may drop by your tasting room on Feb. 23rd (Sat) next year after Dark & Delicious on the 22nd next year.
Edit: One of your 2005 Petite Sirah Old Vines Sodini Ranch even made it back with me to one of our No. Virginia/DC gatherings. Of course, it was a PS tasting.
You are thinking of Courtney, who is Jeff’s cousin. She’s our secret weapon. You know those tasting rooms where the person behind the bar would clearly rather be some place else? You’d never mistake Courtney for that person.
The Zin is going to have a bit RS. At the moment I don’t the exact figure but will call Mike Berthoud, the winemaker, and get the answer. The GSM and the Barnstromer Cab are effectively dry.
By the way, if you go to the tasting room and encounter Courtney and want her to open more wines for you, best bet is to talk real nice about the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Harmonious,
I’m really disappointed it took upwards of four or five comments in before someone asked about “Holding the Mayo”. In any case, you win the prize. There is a jar of Mayonnaise awaiting you at the tasting room.
As for HOLDING the Mayo wines, we think this Unti Vineyard Zin is going to show its forward fruit best for another 3 years or so. After this period you can count on terciary flavors emerging and adding some complexity as the fruit’s forwardness diminishes a tad. The Cab should continue to evolve, change and intrigue cab lovers through 2017 or so. It’s built pretty sturdy. Hard to say on The Gypsy. It’s our first experience with this blend, but we know the Syrah component well. I’d be surprised if you were not happy with this wine 7 or 8 years down the road. But in the end it all depends what style of wine you like.
I visited the tasting room in Glen Ellen just last weekend. Every wine my girlfriend and I tried, we loved! I believe Courtney helped us out and we had a great time!! I would absolutely recommend Mayo Wines fellow Wooters!!!
Very kind of you to notice, David. But actually, I’ve lurked here for some time, particularly for the Wooter commentary.
This time, however, it’s on behalf of my longest running client (Mayo Family Winery) and my best friend, Jeff Mayo.
The cool thing about Mayo Family Winery is the array of wines they produce in any given vintage. It’s remarkable. I don’t know how Michel Berthoud, the winemaker, does it. By the way, Berthoud was the winemaker at Arrowood during its golden years before Jeff stole him.