2019 Favia 'Cerro Sur' Red Wine Napa Valley
Rancho Chimiles, the classic California ranch high in the mountains east of Coombsville, is the home of the Cabernet Franc at the core of our perennially impressive blended red wine, Cerro Sur. These mature vines, in this very special terroir, produce a wine of singular character, aromatic enthusiasm, and fresh, focused flavors. After careful sorting, the grapes are carefully monitored through fermentation and maceration, giving the wine a fine texture and a narrow focus. This is followed by 22 months of aging in 50% new French oak barrels, and bottling without fining or filtration, giving the wine a depth and generosity that is incredibly appealing and age worthy.
The 2019 Cerro Sur delivers pure Cabernet Franc character from start to finish. The black/red hue is the first hint that the wine is deeply structured and intense. The aromas are lifted and exciting, with notes of dried herbs, currant, black cherry and anise. The finesse of the tannins is immediately palpable on the palate, along with multiple layers of flavor: salted black licorice, fresh blackberry, amaro, and red leaf tobacco. This savory delight of a wine will likely age for decades to come, and it will be a pleasure to track its course as it continues to develop. 73% Cabernet Franc, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon
You simply can’t make great wine without great grapes. Viticulturist Annie Favia learned this firsthand working for David Abreu for many years. Working with Abreu, she helped to plant Screaming Eagle. And of course this was after she studied winemaking with the likes of John Kongsgaard and Cathy Corison. Annie’s husband, Andy Erickson, is one of the most accomplished winemakers working in Napa right now. A valley resident since 1994, and a full time consultant since 2011, Erickson is currently leading the revitalization of Mayacamas Vineyards, and has worked for no less than Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Staglin, Dalla Valle, and Arietta. That’s about as good as an American winemaker’s resume can get. It’s hard to think of a more accomplished dream team working in the Valley right now. And they’re under one roof at their historic family home and cellar in Coombsville. Annie and Andy produce flawless, exquisitely crafted wines that are sold primarily to their mailing list and to restaurants.
Decanter
A new addition to the Place de Bordeaux this year - the eponymous project of husband and wife duo; viticulturist Annie Favia and winemaker Andy Erickson. A beautifully scented nose full of rose and violet touches, the Cabernet Franc nuances leap from the glass - fresh and minty, full of herbal sun-kissed ripe fruit but pristinely delivered. Smooth and driving on the palate, crunchy, crisp flavours give a real bite to the palate - red berries, blackcurrants and raisins, all nicely integrated and balanced. This doesn't feel super worked and polished, instead it gives crystalline iron-minerality, lifted acidity and fragrance throughout - real signatures of the terroir and the minimal interventionist winemaking style - the grapes speak more than the winemaking. I just love the sense of wildness, a smoked touch with blue fruits, Asian spices and slightly angular tannins but with ripe fruit giving the body and cool acidity giving the freshness. A stunning wine and welcome addition to the Place.
The 2019 Cerro Sur is a magnificent wine from Favia in this vintage. This Cabernet Franc based wine is the most polished and refined of this brilliant lineup, as it combines a gorgeous ripe dark fruit character, along with remarkable finesse and sheer class. It immediately begins to impress with seductive aromatics of ripe black cherries and blackberries, which are woven together with exotic spices, tobacco, espresso, florals, gravel and savory nuances all taking shape in the glass. On the palate this is full-bodied, beautifully structure and impeccably balanced. It all comes to a beautiful end, as it finishes with remarkable precision and poise. The CerroSur is an incredibly nuanced, utterly captivating wine that is striking today, however there is no doubt this will go on to evolve gracefully for many years to come.
Vinous
From a north-facing site at elevation, the 2019 Cerro Sur is a bold, savory wine loaded with energy. This Cabernet Franc-based wine is bursting with tension. Floral, spice and mocha accents lend striking aromatic top notes. I am soimpressed with the wine’s elegance and total sense of finesse. This is an especially savory wine with strong cool-climate aromas and flavors that are so captivating.