2019 Favia - Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (750ml)

Favia Erickson Winegrowers is the shared project of viticulturist Annie Favia and winemaker Andy Erickson, a husband and wife team whose combined résumés span some of Napa's most sought after cellars, including Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, and Corison. Annie helped plant vineyards alongside David Abreu before turning her attention to her own family's sites, while Andy has spent decades coaxing distinctive wines from the valley's most storied dirt. Favia's releases are built one vineyard at a time, each meant to express a specific place rather than a single house style.

The Oakville bottling comes from Oakville Ranch, a block set high in the eastern hills of the appellation, just above Dalla Valle and not far from Screaming Eagle. Farmed organically, the vineyard's red, iron-rich volcanic soils and elevated, east-facing exposure keep ripening slow and even, even in a generous vintage like 2019. The wine is essentially pure Cabernet Sauvignon, aged an extended period in French oak with a portion new, then bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its natural texture.

The wine shows a deep, glass-staining purple, opening with blackberry, cassis, and violets layered over graphite, cedar, and a touch of dark chocolate. On the palate, black cherry and plum flavors meet savory notes of tobacco and mocha, framed by polished tannins and a long finish marked by espresso and clove. Powerful yet precise, it pairs naturally with roasted lamb, venison, or a firm aged cheese.