06 Maybach Experience

WINE TALK
1

So I finally opened my first bottle of 06 Maybach. Despite the board’s recommendation of a 2-4 hour decant, it probably saw about an hour in the decanter. I was kind of underwhelmed by it, especially given everyone enthusiastic support for it. The wine was very muted, especially on the initial entry, with a good kick of kirsch on the finish. Not nearly as big as CT notes would suggest. Not trying to imply others are being too generous with their scores in the least, but what gives? Did I eff it up and not decant long enough? Bad bottle? Shutting down? I have a couple more but I am very hesitant to open now…

2

Lots of answers will be coming, but I would say that it needs way more time to open up. I had a pop and pour bottle last weekend and it would have benefitted greatly from being in a decanter for several hours.

3

i’ll give you a good idea when i open a bottle in 2015-2016.

4

Someone very wise once answered this very question with: “If I had the time to spare, I’d go minimum of 3 maybe 4/5”.
Another very wise man in another city also answered: " I’d go with what Mr.(wiseman above) stated. A four decant will be exactly what I do for my BYOB bottle I am taking to Napa in a couple of weeks".

All this sage advice wasted. [basic-smile.gif]

5

My guess is that it just needed a longer decant. While the 05 Maybach was drinking pretty well out the gate, the 06 has a cooler fruit profile that needs time and air to more fully express itself.

6

Hardy—har—har.

7

I referenced such sage advice in my post…just didnt have the opportunity to adhere to it [oops.gif]

8

why cooler fruit in 2006? that summer was hot as hell.

9

Just ‘jesting’ with ya’. Muted is what I come across when I sample these early as well. To be honest, 12 hours would not be too much. Hell, I have had many the next day and they still had plenty of life in them. The next time you are in NYC, call me with at LEAST a 6 hour lead-time. I will run for the screw-pull as soon as we hang up…

BTW, check out this note I wrote after a bottle had been opened for 50 hours. the wine? Another TRB wonder, 2006 Schrader GIII:
So I sit here with a few tastes more from Monday nights TRB dinner and just poured the Schrader Georges III, of which I might have had 3 ounces or so.Let me say this. Holy friggin crap! It’s awesome!Sexy, lush and still vibrant. Not a bit of age or sign of too much air in sight. Keep in mind this has now been open for 50 hours. Wow.Dark and complex with notes of camphor, crème de cassis, black cherry cola, sassafras, amazing.Tar, slight soy notes, multi dimensional and incredibly deep and full. A super long finish of 2 plus minutes. Its velvety and plush. I would love to taste this one in 3/5 years.
wow. 95/100

10

i think it needs like 5 hours at least. The oak presence is so powerful in the first few hours and it really needs to integrate. I’d just avoid touching them for awhile. Drink up on the 05’s which are drinking great right now

11

I had it after 24 hours of being open and it was fantastic

12

It’s a bad wine. Don’t bother tasting more. Drop off the list. Unload them now to me for a firesale price! I’m here for ya man!

Seriously, your tasting note is not what I’ve experienced at all. I don’t know if it’s personal preferences or different palates or you just had a closed wine. This wine was lush, rich, and opulent when I’ve had it. Last bottle was a little more than a month ago. Just throwing out guesses, but could it be shutting down? It’s never struck me a wine that will shut down, but you never know. I view it as a mid term drinker. Great today, better tomorrow, not sure about 20 years, though. Mine won’t last that long unless they show me something different over the years.

Chris

13

I think it depends on “how you like your oak”. I like the oak in the Maybach. Wonderful Chocolate-Vanilla goodness… yum.

14

You should have tasted the cult wine producer who shall not be name’s 07 Cabernet we had two nights later. You would have loved that!

15

You should have brought me some… [swearing.gif]

16

Popped and poured miune and it was delicious from the word go. The rest I had the next day was just as good. Either it’s not your style of wine, or it was a bad bottle.

17

they poured siracha in my final glass ;P. How they found Siracha at a restaurant is beyond me.

18

One day I too will open a Maybach so I can join the chorus. Never tried them yet, which is pathetic given my propensity to drink stuff young.

19

While I own the last several vintages, my only taste was at the last Napa Berserkerfest. An 07. It was exceptional.

20

Cool wet spring, hot during summer, cool during harvest. While some winemakers really liked the 06 vintage, TRB being one of them, I found the wines a bit more aloof compared to previous vintages.