The wait is over… the 2022 MAXEM Silver Eagle Vineyard Pinot Noir is Wine Destinations’ Wine of the Year. MAXEM is the family project of Sam and Nancy Kaplan. They launched the project in 2015 and named it after their kids, Max and Emma. MAXEM also happens to mean best of the best in Latin, which is fitting as they are producing some of the best Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays in Sonoma. For many years, Sam has been crafting wines for some of the most exclusive wineries in Napa Valley, and all of that work is shining through in their MAXEM wines. With Sam’s winemaking experience and Nancy’s experience as a chef, they are focused on making balanced and elegant wines with bright acidity that are food-friendly, and that showcase the deep-flavored fruit that grows in the Sonoma region.

The Silver Eagle Vineyard, which is planted with VR and Calera clone vines, is located on the Sonoma Coast and can be considered one of California’s Grand Cru vineyards. The combination of the parentage of the vines and the terroir of the vineyard consistently provides Sam and Nancy with exceptional fruit to craft wines that are noteworthy year after year. When trying to describe the 2022 vintage, we often say that it’s a wine that harmoniously marries the juicy fruit of Sonoma with the beautiful elegance of Burgundy. Only 300 cases were produced.

This year we were fortunate to visit six different countries and experience some amazing wines, making this one of the toughest Wine of the Year decisions we have had to make. So, how did we come to the Final conclusion you might ask? Well, we just simply asked ourselves, what wine would we like to enjoy one more time before the year was over and the answer was the 2022 MAXEM Silver Eagle Pinot Noir… unfortunately we do not have a bottle in our cellar, so the delicious memories will have to suffice.

Cheers to a Happy and Prosperous New Year! 🍷