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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.9 pts. and median of 94 pts. in 43 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Mark1npt on 5/12/2024 & rated 96 points: Had to have a 3rd bottle for the family as we ordered takeout with Andrew and Kala for dinner on Mother's Day.
Tight at the pnp into a decanter but over 3 hours this one really came around. It really opened up and rounded out and clearly has the most life left ahead of it. It clearly had the most acidic backbone of all 3 wines tonight yet was in balance with the strong '12 Cab Franc and Cab fruit. This one is always a fav of mine. If there's one thing you can take from all 3 bottles tonight, it's the importance of air. Without air, you are left with wines that are 3-4 points less than what they could be....... (198 views) | | | Tasted by Mark1npt on 3/17/2024 & rated 95 points: My last bottle of my 2nd stash of this one, wanted to share one with HMC.....haven't gone into my 3rd stash yet.
Decanted 2+ hours and enjoyed over 3+ more with HMC and Carol. All the notes of my last bottle, maybe just a point less. This one came into balance much earlier on and settled in its 95 point slot quickly before fading a point at the end.
Stewed fruit initially, gone within an hour or two of air and replaced by complexity on the nose and palate. Great cab franc elements (62%) blended with the cab sav (38%). Consistent results within a point or so from bottle to bottle and lot to lot. One of my fav blends in all of Napa. (652 views) | | | Tasted by Mark1npt on 3/3/2024 & rated 97 points: So.....loved this one so much, I picked up 2 more bottles at auction over the past year. This is the first bottle of the new stash....OMG, it just keeps getting better.
Everything the last note says from nearly a year ago, plus......with 3-4 hours of air, this is dense, deep, structured, juicy, integrated, balanced and powerful. If anything, there is a hint of alc overriding everything, but it's so good, I'm willing to overlook that warm feeling in the back of my throat......a 12 yo wine that reeks of hedonism and power? I love that......... (641 views) | | | Tasted by Rramey on 12/1/2023 & rated 92 points: Deep garnet in color. Bell pepper and spice. straightforward nothing big on the back. (383 views) | | | Tasted by Mark1npt on 7/9/2023 & rated 96 points: Blew through my original 3 pack of this one back in 2020. Haven't had another until today with gteran76 and his SO.....
Decanted 2+ hours then back into the bottle to take to our fav steakhouse, Chops. Pnp'd at the table to dark garnet color in the glass and a wonderful cab franc dominant nose of perfumed red fruit....the palate notes are pretty much identical to my first bottle from 6/20 except for it now being just a tad more aged/integrated/smooth. In a great drinking window right now but clearly can go for a few more years. No green notes noted to this bottle at all. I guess I've just been lucky with these? Thoroughly enjoyed by all at the table. (1641 views) | | | Tasted by gteran76 on 7/8/2023 & rated 92 points: This wine is drinking nicely at the age of 11, a bit bricked on the rim from what I thought it to be a little older, like a 2006-2007. Hints of mocha tobacco and berries, with a finish into menthol maybe coming from the Cabernet Franc? I liked this one even though I think is either on its way down or it was over exposed to oxygen. Either way good bottle and great time thanks to Mark and Carol!
92 - Drink up. (634 views) | | | Tasted by Geaux Tigers on 8/25/2022 & rated 91 points: Half the bottle into the decanter and the other half in to a 375 ml. A few early sips, the rest a 30 min decant. Early sips somewhat muted though showing a bit with swirling—cola, black and red raspberry, fresh green herbs. a touch more green pepper.
At 30 min—more green than fruit, with earthy dirt, cedar and tobacco, the cab franc has taken hold. Needs more air, a pairing with venison will not be the cards with this recalcitrant bugger. 60 min showed no improvement.
2 days later, opened other half with a shake decant and drank over 2 hr but took 90 min. more air for the fruit to finally makes its appearance.
This bottle did not show well overall, a big disappointment for me. 92 at its best, 89 for most of the time. (1051 views) | | | Tasted by sdonahue on 5/21/2022 & rated 96 points: Fabulous with meatballs Opened op after 1 hr decant (794 views) | | | Tasted by Tonythefish on 4/4/2022 & rated 95 points: See prior notes and evolving beautifully (782 views) | | | Tasted by DrJonS on 9/24/2021: Nice floral nose that opened with mocha and black fruit. Decanted it for 45 minutes. A nice cocoa with dark cherry and sweet black raspberry that had oak tannins that were moderate. solid 96 points and could go another 5-7 years. (1019 views) | | | Tasted by Geaux Tigers on 5/29/2021 & rated 92 points: Into the depths of the Unknown (a/k/a Mostly wines we have yet to taste); 5/27/2021-5/29/2021: Inspired by the great recent notes, I had to take this for another spin.
Popped the cork, shook some air in, and slow ox’d for 4 hrs.
This is a great wine, but this particular bottle did not show as well as I would have liked or as well as prior bottles. Funky and earthy nose, red and black fruit on the palate, but somewhat flat and muted on the finish. Could not pinpoint why this bottle lacked the pizzazz I associate with the Favia cab blends. This was a bottle that I kept wishing would be what it was not. This was like telling your child, I’m not mad at you, I’m just disappointed!
This is well into its drinking window—would not hesitate to open another. (1828 views) | | | Tasted by Hi.its.Don.4.Wine on 5/27/2021 & rated 100 points: A Perfect Wine
If I was a recognized wine reviewer, I can only think of what a “Perfect Wine” review might mean. Alas, I am not, and as such, it will be those of you that read my words and know of what I speak. Also, understand that “Perfect” is based on my taste buds and knowledge of wine, each of us owing to genetics, how we taste.
What makes this wine so perfect, and more importantly, what wine is it?
As for the latter, the wine is the Favia Cerro Sur Napa Valley Red Wine 2012
Created by the husband-and-wife team, Andy Erickson and Annie Favia, the winery started in 2003 in an area in Coombsville in Napa Valley. It should be noted, but too numerous to mention, each person’s credentials as they relate to whom they worked for prior, but both becoming a force in the wine business today.
What makes this wine so perfect? A blend of 62% Cabernet Franc and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and coming from vineyards situated high in the mountains known as Rancho Chimiles, the vines, now in their mid-thirties, produce wines with a bold aromatic profile which leads you to a wine that is lush, deep, rich and smooth, what more could you ask for? Red fruit, soft tannins, and mouth-coating with an undertone of earthiness but perfectly balanced. Ending in a luxurious and spiced finish. Coming from the excellent 2012 Vintage, the stars aligned to help create this masterpiece.
While the wine received a 97 Point review upon release, and Favia’s La Magdalena (another wine using the same grapes) receiving a 100, the Cerro Sur has transformed into what I still consider to be “That Perfect Wine!”
Cheers (1188 views) | | | Tasted by Geaux Tigers on 11/24/2020 & rated 97 points: Saw recent notes and had FOMO on a potential open window. I did not miss out!
On open perfume filled the immediate area, enticing Mrs Geaux to take a whiff. We knew something great await!
Crushed blueberries, mocha, black raspberry with an astringent tannic backbone. Into the decanter for 60 min. That was all it needed on this evening.
Nose of fruity perfume and floral components, milk chocolate, blueberries, hint of pine tar, touch of bubble gum. On the palate tannins have tamed, oak in the background, red cherry, black cherry, black raspberry, faint herbal notes with a nice mineral component on a mediumish finish. Plenty of acid left for this to age considerably longer. Runs circles around my prior bottle (91 pts). The cabs have integrated and are now dancing in unison! Drank better at cellar temp, became sharp above 65F.
If you have only one, let it sleep 2-3 more years. If you have multiples, pop a cork with a bit of air and take her for a spin! This may improve some but it’s damn good now. (1357 views) | | | Tasted by Mark1npt on 11/12/2020 & rated 96 points: Nice at 2 hours of air....fantastic at 3-4. For some reason this blend of 78% cab franc and 22% cab just floats my boat! Really opens up into a beautiful smooth, integrated blend given time. Not quite as regal or elegant as an aged Verite, but pretty damn close, in my book, at one half to one third the price of a LeDesir. (2426 views) | | | Tasted by Decanting Queen on 11/12/2020 & rated 96 points: This was an OMG good wine. Really lush and velvety in texture, rich plums and chocolate on the initial nose. Changed quite a bit as we had it open—there was a slight cab franc green note (not bad, just interesting) that faded over time. This is a big wine no doubt but very balanced and the fruit is mature and nuanced with other savory notes. Really loved this and now I need to find some for as soon as I start buying wine again (The cellar is FULL)
Thank Mark for sharing!! (2515 views) | | | Tasted by bbq_grandcru on 9/12/2020 & rated 94 points: Very good balance of fruit and tannin, great body with a very smooth and full finish. It’s definitely a heavy bold flavor that drank very well and would likely hold up for years to come. (1066 views) | | | Tasted by kennyd on 9/5/2020 & rated 97 points: Wow, I mean really, WOW! The score I gave this wine six months ago was too low. This is right on the edge of being a perfect wine. The fullness and redness (is there such a word?) of this wine is spectacular. Pretty amazing for a Napa wine given that it's eight years out from vintage. Only the very best of the best from the Valley are able to achieve this sort of ageability, i.e., eight years out, much better than it was five years ago (it was good then), and absolutely no signs of falling off. Now my problem is we drank three bottles with friends and family, paired up with pounds and pounds of grilled marinated skirt steak, so I only have one bottle left in our cellar. Bummer, but what a nice reason to be bummed. Cheers to Andy and the rest of the team at Favia! (874 views) | | | Tasted by Mark1npt on 8/1/2020 & rated 96 points: Once again, right up here for WOTN....just a beautiful cab franc/cab blend.Can't believe its taken me this long to find this great estate! Notes same as last bottle. (2379 views) | | | Tasted by Mark1npt on 6/25/2020 & rated 96 points: Impeccable. This is my very first bottle ever from this producer and what a way to start!.....mid red garnet in the glass, briar/lead pencil nose opens better after 60 min......2 hours of air takes this wine to another level. It is superbly constructed. There is strength to the red berry fruit, there are rounded tannins integrating nicely. The mouthwatering acidity ties it all together with just a bit of orange rind and cedar on the ending. Other than Le Desir from Verite I would have never thought a cab franc dominated wine from CA could be so good. What a gem.....WA's 97 point score is pretty dead bang on. I'm giving it a 96+ tonight....and curious as to what 3-4 more hours of air might do. (2374 views) | | | Tasted by fournet on 6/17/2020 & rated 93 points: Typical nice Cerro Sur from Favia. The Cabernet Franc shines through in this vintage. The tannins are well balanced. The finish is good but not great, probably the weakest part of this very nice wine. Overall, well balanced and medium bodied for a California Bordeaux blend. (756 views) | | | Tasted by kennyd on 4/11/2020 & rated 94 points: Really excellent red blend from Napa. First time that we had pulled any out of our cellar since we ordered it at a tasting in Chicago with Andy Erickson. He has an amazing way of blending, but of course, he starts with great grapes. For being over seven years out from vintage, it had a remarkably fresh, and fruit-forward bouquet and taste. No rush on the rest of the bottles in our cellar. Thank you, Andy. Cheers! (698 views) | | | Tasted by dpolzien on 4/28/2019 & rated 93 points: Thoroughly enjoyed this blend. Was a bit worried as there was some seepage through a split in the cork that made it's way underneath the foil, but the wine was excellent right out of the bottle.
Decanted for 2 hours prior to tasting again, and found similar notes as below, dark ruby, floral nose, chocolate tones. Just as good on day 2. (1397 views) | | | Tasted by Tonythefish on 12/15/2018 & rated 90 points: Floral notes and light chocolate overtones. Surprisingly tight for a 6 yr old cab franc. I think a 60 minute decant would open it up as second glass better than first (1457 views) | | | Tasted by Quiet Lion on 6/26/2018 & rated 93 points: Monthly Men's Wine Dinner (Purple Cafe, Bellevue, WA): Bold, young and tight with a touch of citrus. 65/35 Cab Franc/ Cab Sauvignon. This softened after an hour in the decanter and was tasty if not complex. My #3 of 6 and tied for the group's WOTN. (2148 views) | | | Tasted by bestdamncab on 10/30/2017 & rated 93 points: MW 2017 SIT DOWN CABERNET FRANC/CABERNET SAUVIGNON TASTING WITH Andy Ericson. Nose of red and black cherry fruit, same on the palate, big body, rich and super ripe black cherry not sweet fruit, almost mouth filling fruit, lovely, rich fruit, one of the top three of the sit down tasting, fairly fruit forward, better in 2 years, long, long, flavorful finish. (2499 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, New Releases from Napa Valley: 2012 and 2013 (Dec 2014) (10/1/2014)
(Favia Cerro Sur Napa Valley Red Wine Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2014, IWC Issue #174
(Favia Cerro Sur Red Wine Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, 2011 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Terroir Matters - Updated (Nov 2013)
(Favia Cerro Sur Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Favia Producer websiteRed Blend.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Napa ValleySt. Helena |
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