In Latin, MAXEM has the distinction of meaning “best of the best.” It also combines the names of the owner’s two children, Max and Emma. With the iconic Ulises Valdez Vineyard as their source on the Sonoma Coast, Sam and Nancy Kaplan make Pinot Noir from the historical Calera clone and Chardonnay from the equally acclaimed Wente clone. Sam is a highly regarded winemaker; Nancy a professional chef with her laser palate, has an equal say. MAXEM wines represent some on the most exciting wines produced in California today and have received rave reviews from the wine industries top journalists.

Sam has been making noteworthy and collectible Cabernets for his clients, Arkenstone on Howell Mountain, Nine Suns on Pritchard Hill, and Memento Mori in Napa with the help from renowned grape grower Andy Beckstoffer, all of which are ultra-premium brands made with meticulous care from pristinely farmed vineyards.

Both fresh and exotic, the MAXEM Chardonnay has a sense of focus and intensity. The wine is rich and plush, but with flinty and lime zest tones for balance. Pineapple, honeysuckle, citrus aromatics and white peach are present in this medium to full-bodied wine; lively with vibrant acidity and a crystal clean finish. This UV Vineyard fruit is 100% Old Wente clone, planted less than six miles from the Pacific Ocean where the maritime influences surround the entire area with warm, sun-dappled afternoons refreshed by cool ocean breezes. Truly, these conditions are the perfect combination to capture the best, most exquisite Chardonnay California has to offer! Fermented in a combination of new French oak barrels and concrete tanks and then aged for 15 months, the wine displays great intensity and focus. Only 250 cases produced. This elegant wine should drink beautifully for 5-7 years, possibly longer.

Ulises Valdez manages the UV Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast, a site well-known to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fanatics. Sam tasted wines from this vineyard several times, and knew it was a longshot, but decided to see if they could purchase some of its fruit. The site wasn’t the only thing attractive about UV, although its coastal location, well-drained soils, and meticulous farming protocol are precisely what Sam & Nancy sought.

It was Ulises himself - an immigrant who worked for others for decades before striking out on his own - who drew them to this place. His story, his struggle, resonated with the Kaplan’s; after spending a lot of time in other vineyards, this was the one that felt right. When Sam met Ulises over lunch, the first thing he said was that he had no fruit to sell. But as the meal progressed, Sam and Ulises swapped life stories, and even a few tears. A bond was formed, and by the end of the afternoon, Ulises said... “I may have a little fruit for you, mi amigo.” Sadly, Ulises unexpectedly passed away in 2018 at 49 years of age. This has given Sam an even more passion for this project and to carry on Ulises’ dream with the help of his children.