Tasted at Favia alongside the 2012 and 2011 Favia Cerro Sur. I found the Napa Valley to be the best of the three in terms of complexity and current accessibility.
The nose wasn't giving off too much, with some aromas of dark berry and vanilla. But on the palate, a great balance of black and purple berry fruits, with black currant, blackberry, black licorice, asphalt, charcoal, and cassis. Still wrapped a bit tight (understandably), but feels like it is ready to pop with an even deeper fruit profile in the coming years. Definitely a darker fruit-driven stature when compared to the Cerro Sur at this stage.
A wine with a lot of energy, flamboyance, and precision, with hedonistic, plush fruit that's framed in a wall of sweet tannins. Hold until late 2017 at the least. 95-96 at the moment.
Tasted alongside the 2011 Cerro Sur and 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet. This was my #2 favorite, with the 2012 Napa Cabernet the clear #1 at the moment. My other half preferred the 2011 to the 2012 Cerro Sur, stating the 2011 held a cooler, more mineral-driven profile that seemed to her more interesting.
I found the 2012 Cerro Sur to be fairly accessible, with beautiful, layered flavors of dark red, purple, and black berry notes. A little bit of a red berry zing on the back end. It was a little more medium-bodied when compared to the 2012 Napa Cabernet (which was a powerful wine by comparison). The Cerro Sur seemed to be showing just a tad less complexity at this stage, but only because it was next to the behemoth Napa Cabernet.
A great wine, but needing some time in bottle to sort itself out. Still highly recommended and an impeccably made wine. Try after 2018.
Tasted at Favia alongside the 2012 Cerro Sur and the 2012 Napa Cabernet. The Napa Cabernet was the clear frontrunner, with powerful dark fruits. The 2012 Cerro Sur was #2 for me, with the 2011 just falling a tick behind the pack. Given the vintage, the 2011 Cerro Sur is a brilliant success and very well made red. It showed the cooler aspects of the year, but still maintained a pure fruit, medium-bodied personality that was very appealing.
A definite food wine, with notes of purple and black berry fruits, wet slate, chalk, black licorice, and some earth. Reminded me a bit of the 2009 Cerro Sur (see my CT notes on the 2009 from 8/2/15).
The 2011 is drinking well now, and seems to have the stuffing to push through the coming years. Decant for an hour or so before consumption, or wait another year in hopes of maximizing its drinking window a bit more.
2012 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon 96 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Tasted at Favia alongside the 2012 and 2011 Favia Cerro Sur. I found the Napa Valley to be the best of the three in terms of complexity and current accessibility.
The nose wasn't giving off too much, with some aromas of dark berry and vanilla. But on the palate, a great balance of black and purple berry fruits, with black currant, blackberry, black licorice, asphalt, charcoal, and cassis. Still wrapped a bit tight (understandably), but feels like it is ready to pop with an even deeper fruit profile in the coming years. Definitely a darker fruit-driven stature when compared to the Cerro Sur at this stage.
A wine with a lot of energy, flamboyance, and precision, with hedonistic, plush fruit that's framed in a wall of sweet tannins. Hold until late 2017 at the least. 95-96 at the moment.
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2012 Favia Cerro Sur 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Tasted alongside the 2011 Cerro Sur and 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet. This was my #2 favorite, with the 2012 Napa Cabernet the clear #1 at the moment. My other half preferred the 2011 to the 2012 Cerro Sur, stating the 2011 held a cooler, more mineral-driven profile that seemed to her more interesting.
I found the 2012 Cerro Sur to be fairly accessible, with beautiful, layered flavors of dark red, purple, and black berry notes. A little bit of a red berry zing on the back end. It was a little more medium-bodied when compared to the 2012 Napa Cabernet (which was a powerful wine by comparison). The Cerro Sur seemed to be showing just a tad less complexity at this stage, but only because it was next to the behemoth Napa Cabernet.
A great wine, but needing some time in bottle to sort itself out. Still highly recommended and an impeccably made wine. Try after 2018.
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2011 Favia Cerro Sur 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Tasted at Favia alongside the 2012 Cerro Sur and the 2012 Napa Cabernet. The Napa Cabernet was the clear frontrunner, with powerful dark fruits. The 2012 Cerro Sur was #2 for me, with the 2011 just falling a tick behind the pack. Given the vintage, the 2011 Cerro Sur is a brilliant success and very well made red. It showed the cooler aspects of the year, but still maintained a pure fruit, medium-bodied personality that was very appealing.
A definite food wine, with notes of purple and black berry fruits, wet slate, chalk, black licorice, and some earth. Reminded me a bit of the 2009 Cerro Sur (see my CT notes on the 2009 from 8/2/15).
The 2011 is drinking well now, and seems to have the stuffing to push through the coming years. Decant for an hour or so before consumption, or wait another year in hopes of maximizing its drinking window a bit more.
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