Faust Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Faust Cabernet Sauvignon  is made from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

"Cabernet’s classic aromas and flavors star in our 2021 Faust Napa Valley. Delicate violet notes lift the dark fruit on the nose—black currant and briary blackberry—layered with pungent forest botanicals, leafy tobacco, graphite, and toasted spice. The velvet of fine-textured tannins backs expressive red fruit flavors on a complex palate, both sweet and savory with mocha and minerality, juicy ripe fruit and freshness.” — DAVID JELINEK, WINEMAKER

Faust Cabernet Sauvignon—a blend of our Coombsville vineyard fruit with lots from other cool sites in the valley—sets the bar for elegant balance in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2021, cooler-thanaverage temperatures produced that balance naturally, with flavors and tannins reaching maturity against a backdrop of ideal acidity levels. The wine is deliciously versatile, with generously ripe fruit that makes it an appealing sip on its own, but also enough lively acidity to make it an ideal partner for a range of foods.

The winter of 2021 brought little rain and deepening drought conditions in Napa Valley, setting up a vintage of low yields and small, concentrated berries. At the same time, temperatures from spring through the growing season ran slightly cooler than normal, lengthening the ripening period after veraison. Sugar levels rose very gradually while acidity levels remained high and bright. As a result, the fruit came in with notable flavor intensity, supple and mature tannins, natural complexity—balanced between ripeness and vibrant freshness

Review:

Inviting aromas of ripe blackcurrants and blackberries as well as crushed walnuts, cedar and bark. Full-bodied, creamy and structured with firm, polished tannins. Balanced and even with a lingering finish.

-James Suckling 95 Points

Avennia Sestina Red Blend is made from  77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc.

The Sestina is a poetic form from Medieval France. Just as a contemporary poet can use an old form like the Sestina to express modern ideas, we use the traditional Bordeaux blend to make modern wines that express Washington fruit. Sestina is our vision for an old vine blend where the focus is on structure, balance, and complexity. This wine is designed for the cellar, but is enjoyable now.

Sestina: This wine is a blockbuster, with black currant, black raspberry, saddle leather, freshly tilled earth, vanilla, and violet on the nose. Exceedingly rich and balanced on the palate, with great poise and structure for long aging. The finish echoes with fresh black fruits, minerally touches, and floral notes.

Review:

The 2020 Sestina showed beautifully, with lots of ripe black fruits, tobacco, and spring flower notes in a medium to full-bodied, fresh, focused, elegant style. It has fine tannins and a great finish and should drink nicely right out of the gate. The tannins here are terrific.

Jeb Dunnuck  94-96 Points

Ghost Block Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

For this Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon, 2020 was a year of low yield and high concentration. The Spring was very dry, and the summer had several heat spikes, leading to small berries and an early harvest. The Ghost Block Vineyard was harvested on 9/12, two weeks earlier than usual. A supreme representation of Cabernet Sauvignon made by Kristi Koford with gorgeous fruit aromas of Black cherry, blackberries, black currant, and hints of cloves, licorice, vanilla, chocolate, and mocha give an extraordinary complexity framed by a firm but polished texture of fine grain tannins with the persistent acidity that elevates the experience. Decanted for an hour now and best from 2026.

Keermont Cabernet Sauvignon grows in Keermont's Cottage Lane Vineyard on the mid-slopes of the Helderberg. This vineyard is situated on the crest of a ridge (320m above sea level) so has aspects ranging from East through North to West. It is very exposed resulting in small vines with low yields. This has allowed to make a relatively fine grained Cabernet, but the clay soils translate to a wine with power, tension and fresh acidity. They blend in a couple of barrels of other varieties to add to the complexity of flavor and tannin structure.

All grapes used in producing the wines are grown on Keermont Vineyards. Most of the vineyard parcels grow on deep red clay rich soil derived from sandstone and granite and are surrounded by indigenous ‘fynbos’ vegetation. The vineyards are planted on steep mid-slopes high up in the valley between the Stellenbosch and Helderberg mountain ranges. Aspects vary from North East through North to West facing between 250 and 400 meters above sea level.

Dark ruby red in color, this is quite a serious vintage with a complex bouquet of ripe red berry fruit, cedarwood, and typical ‘fynbos’ flowers. The palate is full bodied, but gentle. Tannin structure is full and dense and coats the palate while the natural acidity keeps the ripe fruit in check. Savory notes of tomato paste and cloves add character to the bright red strawberry and cassis flavors which linger into a long, tight finish. Drink 2020 – 2035.

Review:

"Something of a crowd pleaser from Alex Starey, this is a comparatively forward cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Supple, ripe and perfumed, it combines fynbos and dried herb aromas, fig and mulberry flavours, supple tannins and plenty of body and alcohol. 2023-29"

- Tim Atkin (South Africa 2023 Report), 91 pts

Long Shadows Feather Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100 percent Washington State Cabernet. 

Acclaimed Napa Valley vintner Randy Dunn has a reputation for producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. He brings more than four decades of winemaking experience to the Columbia Valley to produce Feather, his only wine made outside of California.

Tasting Notes: Deep crimson colored with pure and expressive Cabernet Sauvignon character. Generous aromas and flavors of dark fruits, violets, coffee and toasted herbs combine with a textured mid-palate to deliver a big, yet focused, wine with polished tannins and persistent finish.

Winemaking: Grapes were hand-harvested at the peak of ripeness, then lightly crushed and fermented in small stainless steel tanks. Once fermentation was underway, the cap was pumped over aggressively to extract color and structure. As fermentation neared completion, pump overs were handled more gently to further extract color and flavors without imparting harsh tannins. The finished wine was aged 22 months in 90% new Vicard French oak barrels (Randy's cooper of choice at Dunn Vineyards as well).

Alcohol: 14.4%
pH: 3.86
TA: 0.58 grams / 100ml

 Review:

"Instantly impressive, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Feather opens to silky, fresh and fleshy dark red and black fruit tones with picturesque rich and ripe notions that sashay out of the glass with elegance, power and precision. World-class and devastatingly beautiful, the wine continues to somersault across the ever-evolving finish, and it will undoubtedly be well received upon its release. Mark your calendar now, and run, don’t walk to add this to your cellar. Just under 48,000 bottles were filled after the wine rested for 22 months in all French oak, 90% first fill. - Anthony MUELLER"

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (May 11th 2023), 98 pts

The 2020 Oakville Winery Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits aromas of cherry and raspberry with notes of fresh roses, vanilla, dust, and pencil shaving. The rhythmic structure between the granular tannings and the vibrant acidity allows the sensation of a long, refreshing finish. This Cabernet Sauvignon can be aged for a decade bringing all the earthy components of a classic Napa Cab.

A New York strip steak with butter, mushrooms, and herbs will melt when you pair it with this wine.