Community Tasting Notes 12

• Cyclist Likes this wine: 97 points

  November 13, 2021 - Unlike SF, Cabernet Franc is my favorite varietal and I wholesomely appreciate the spectrum of flavors and notes it can produce based on how the winemaker decides to have it dance. This was, to only SF's surprise (the Cab Franc naysayer), an incredible wine with great body, acidity, and a complete spectrum of complex oak and dark fruit notes along with the enthusiastic lift that Cab Franc brings to the table. Dal Forno took the Wine of the Day for me, but this was a great treat from SF. Now I'm very excited to start to pile on Cabernet Franc's for him to enjoy next time since it seems we may have turned him.

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• sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 99 points

  November 13, 2021 - Old world, new world; old friends, new friends (sfwl's deck in warm and sunny Noe Valley): One of my 2 wine contributions, bought at the big box wine store about 9 months ago as a one off. Aerated for about an hour after which its most intensely herbal notes blew off and were replaced by sweet and intense dark florals and spice, black and red cherries, black and blueberries, mocha, wet earth and graphite and gravel notes. Even though I'd allowed 2+ hours of air, the nose and palate were so superb, I recorked for 90 minutes before we began tasting. Deep slightly brownish purple, medium to full bodied, thick legs. Present but very well integrated tannins and acidity, no heat. Deeply complex and persistent, medium+ intensity. With over 400 TNs, this is my first CF/CF-dominant blend; while I appreciate the lift it can add to a CS (or even merlot) dominant blend, I'm often skeptical of it as the starring player, as the herbal quality that brings the lift can too often, in my experience, eclipse the fruit. But after an hour of air, that was certainly not the case here; this supple, elegant wine simply stunned. A bit creamy with a luscious, luxurious mouthfeel, this wine displayed extraordinary length, with waves of flavors washing over the palate, as the fragrant aromas tantalized the nose. Although there's not a sharp edge in sight, I do have to quibble that this wine is in any way lacking structure, and the tannins and acidity made it a great partner with the charcuterie and smoked chicken, and I think that the structure combined with the elements of spice could help it excel not only as a standalone and the usual with red meat dishes, but also with some more seasoned dishes as well. With just a bit of air, this is in a perfect drinking window and should continue to be I'd guess for 5 years or so, but these wines with well-integrated structures usually make me think that they won't be forever wines, and the way this wine is drinking now, I'm most inclined to say why wait. My biggest criticism of this wine is that the bottle, alas, ran out. This has also piqued my curiosity for more CFs, and while, unlike some of my more epicurean friends on CT, I don't drink Andy Erickson's wines on a regular basis, this is my third Bordeaux blend of his (Ovid reds from '08 and '12 before this), and all 3 are on my shortlist of all-time favorite wines. A very close WOTD (maybe because I brought it?) over the '08 Dal Forno AdV, but any day I could choose the lesser of those 2 would be an awfully great day. 98-99

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• Fugu Me Likes this wine:

  April 14, 2019 - PnP, consumed over three hours. Incredibly smooth on the palate, this still shows prominent oak and is fairly fruit-forward. Tannins are pretty subdued at this point, but peek out a bit. Paired admirably with 56-day dry aged Flannery New York strips.

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• fournet Likes this wine:

  November 21, 2018 - Every bit as enjoyable (or more) as when I last tried four years ago. Tannins are settled down. Great, long finish. Dark berries dominant. Really well integrated.

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• Mark Brandon Likes this wine: 95 points

  January 10, 2018 - Near the end of the fruit forward phase, which is perfect if you like ultra-refined fruit forward. New world meets right bank. Had with lamb burgers - terrific pairing. I rarely give a mid-90s rating. Strong 95 on this one. Last thought- I usually like new world bdx varietals with a good bit more age. However, this did not have a lot of tannic structure for a relatively young wine. I don't see this going for another decade, but I think anytime in the next 5 years it will continue to be brilliant.

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Pro Reviews 3

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2008
• Type Red
• Producer Favia
• Varietal Red Blend
• Designation Cerro Sur
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Napa Valley
• Appellation Napa Valley

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 124 (42%)
• Consumed 174 (58%)

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