WINEMAKER NOTES
1988 Dalla Valle Maya – Napa Valley’s Cult Debut of Greatness
The 1988 Dalla Valle Vineyards Maya marks the inaugural vintage of this now-legendary Napa Valley wine. Named after Naoko and Gustav Dalla Valle’s daughter, Maya, this Cabernet Sauvignon–Cabernet Franc blend from Oakville became an instant icon, establishing Dalla Valle among the leading California Cult Wines. Even decades later, the 1988 continues to impress with its structure, elegance, and remarkable longevity.
Tasting Notes
The wine opens with evolved yet vibrant aromas of black cherry, dried rose petal, and cedar, followed by touches of graphite, tobacco leaf, and leather. On the palate, it offers mature flavors of dark plum and truffle, supported by fine-grained tannins and lingering mineral tones. The finish remains persistent and balanced—a testament to its extraordinary craftsmanship.
Winemaking & Vineyard Details
The 1988 Maya was produced from hillside vineyards in Oakville, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The volcanic soils and western exposure contribute to the power and aromatic intensity that define Dalla Valle’s style. Aged for nearly 22 months in new French oak, the debut vintage was made under the guidance of winemaker Heidi Barrett, who would go on to shape the estate’s cult reputation through the 1990s.
Investment & Collectibility
The 1988 Dalla Valle Maya is a piece of Napa Valley history. As the first vintage of one of the region’s most important wines, it is a cornerstone for serious collectors. Extremely limited in availability, bottles in pristine condition continue to appreciate in value and historical significance. Perfect for your collection.
Vintage Insights
The 1988 vintage in Napa Valley was moderate and dry, favoring wines with firm structure and graceful aging trajectories. While many Cabernets from this year have faded, Dalla Valle’s hillside fruit and meticulous winemaking have allowed the 1988 Maya to retain balance and vitality even after more than three decades.
Explore Related Collections
Shipping Information
Domestic Shipping
We currently ship wine to eligible U.S. states where the shipment of alcohol is legally permitted. Orders are fulfilled via UPS or FedEx, so please plan according to the carrier's delivery schedule.
Orders placed Monday through Thursday before 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time typically ship the same day. Orders placed after 2:00 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday will ship the following Monday.
Same-day delivery may be available within the Los Angeles Metro area if placed before noon. Please contact us at (626) 714-7006 to arrange expedited local service.
Packaging & Temperature-Sensitive Shipping
To protect wine quality, all orders are packed in EPS foam shippers, with gel packs when necessary.
Wine is temperature-sensitive and may be affected by excessive heat, freezing temperatures, or significant temperature fluctuations during transit. During periods of elevated temperature risk, we strongly recommend selecting Next Day Air service whenever available.
Customers requesting shipment during warm or cold weather conditions must review and agree to our Temperature Protection & Shipping Policy. By requesting shipment, customers acknowledge and accept the risks associated with temperature exposure, carrier delays, failed delivery attempts, and other transit-related conditions outside of Angry Wine Merchant's control.
For OWC (Original Wooden Case) orders, bottles are removed and shipped in foam for safety. The wooden case ships separately via Ground unless otherwise requested.
Weather Holds & Free Storage
In periods of extreme heat or cold, we reserve the right to delay shipment until safer conditions return. Customers may also request that we hold an order for future shipment.
We offer complimentary temperature-controlled storage for up to 6 months from the date of purchase. Select the "Hold for Weather" option at checkout and we will coordinate shipping at a later date.
Insurance
We provide free shipping insurance for loss or visible damage during transit, subject to carrier terms and conditions.
Shipping insurance does not cover deterioration in wine condition resulting from heat exposure, freezing temperatures, temperature fluctuations, carrier delays, missed delivery attempts, carrier holds, or other temperature-related transit conditions. Please review our Temperature Protection & Shipping Policy for more information.
Adult Signature Required
All shipments of alcohol require an adult signature (21+) upon delivery. Carriers will not release packages without adult authorization.
Customers are responsible for ensuring that an eligible adult is available to receive the shipment on the first delivery attempt. Additional charges may apply for re-delivery, redirection, failed delivery attempts, returned shipments, or reshipment.
Shipping Address Accuracy
Orders are shipped to the exact shipping address provided at checkout. Angry Wine Merchant is not responsible for errors or omissions in the address submitted by the customer.
If a package is delayed, returned, misdelivered, or requires rerouting due to incorrect or incomplete shipping details, the customer assumes full responsibility. Additional shipping fees may apply if reshipment is required. By placing an order, you confirm that the shipping address entered is correct and agree to these terms.
International Shipping
We do offer international shipping where legally allowed. For details, click here or contact us directly.
States We Ship To
We ship to the following U.S. states:
Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY)
Shipping laws and carrier availability may change. If your state does not appear as an available shipping destination during checkout, we are unable to ship there at this time. Please contact us if you would like to confirm current eligibility.
1988 Dalla Valle Maya – Napa Valley’s Cult Debut of Greatness
The 1988 Dalla Valle Vineyards Maya marks the inaugural vintage of this now-legendary Napa Valley wine. Named after Naoko and Gustav Dalla Valle’s daughter, Maya, this Cabernet Sauvignon–Cabernet Franc blend from Oakville became an instant icon, establishing Dalla Valle among the leading California Cult Wines. Even decades later, the 1988 continues to impress with its structure, elegance, and remarkable longevity.
Tasting Notes
The wine opens with evolved yet vibrant aromas of black cherry, dried rose petal, and cedar, followed by touches of graphite, tobacco leaf, and leather. On the palate, it offers mature flavors of dark plum and truffle, supported by fine-grained tannins and lingering mineral tones. The finish remains persistent and balanced—a testament to its extraordinary craftsmanship.
Winemaking & Vineyard Details
The 1988 Maya was produced from hillside vineyards in Oakville, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The volcanic soils and western exposure contribute to the power and aromatic intensity that define Dalla Valle’s style. Aged for nearly 22 months in new French oak, the debut vintage was made under the guidance of winemaker Heidi Barrett, who would go on to shape the estate’s cult reputation through the 1990s.
Investment & Collectibility
The 1988 Dalla Valle Maya is a piece of Napa Valley history. As the first vintage of one of the region’s most important wines, it is a cornerstone for serious collectors. Extremely limited in availability, bottles in pristine condition continue to appreciate in value and historical significance. Perfect for your collection.
Vintage Insights
The 1988 vintage in Napa Valley was moderate and dry, favoring wines with firm structure and graceful aging trajectories. While many Cabernets from this year have faded, Dalla Valle’s hillside fruit and meticulous winemaking have allowed the 1988 Maya to retain balance and vitality even after more than three decades.
Explore Related Collections
1988 Dalla Valle Maya – Napa Valley’s Cult Debut of Greatness
The 1988 Dalla Valle Vineyards Maya marks the inaugural vintage of this now-legendary Napa Valley wine. Named after Naoko and Gustav Dalla Valle’s daughter, Maya, this Cabernet Sauvignon–Cabernet Franc blend from Oakville became an instant icon, establishing Dalla Valle among the leading California Cult Wines. Even decades later, the 1988 continues to impress with its structure, elegance, and remarkable longevity.
Tasting Notes
The wine opens with evolved yet vibrant aromas of black cherry, dried rose petal, and cedar, followed by touches of graphite, tobacco leaf, and leather. On the palate, it offers mature flavors of dark plum and truffle, supported by fine-grained tannins and lingering mineral tones. The finish remains persistent and balanced—a testament to its extraordinary craftsmanship.
Winemaking & Vineyard Details
The 1988 Maya was produced from hillside vineyards in Oakville, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The volcanic soils and western exposure contribute to the power and aromatic intensity that define Dalla Valle’s style. Aged for nearly 22 months in new French oak, the debut vintage was made under the guidance of winemaker Heidi Barrett, who would go on to shape the estate’s cult reputation through the 1990s.
Investment & Collectibility
The 1988 Dalla Valle Maya is a piece of Napa Valley history. As the first vintage of one of the region’s most important wines, it is a cornerstone for serious collectors. Extremely limited in availability, bottles in pristine condition continue to appreciate in value and historical significance. Perfect for your collection.
Vintage Insights
The 1988 vintage in Napa Valley was moderate and dry, favoring wines with firm structure and graceful aging trajectories. While many Cabernets from this year have faded, Dalla Valle’s hillside fruit and meticulous winemaking have allowed the 1988 Maya to retain balance and vitality even after more than three decades.
Explore Related Collections
Choose options