No stranger to critical acclaim! The previous vintage was Rank #18 on Jeb Dunnuck's Top 100 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Under $100
|
|
L'Aventure has been unstoppable with recent strings of well deserved 95 to 100-point scores as the true bastion of Paso fine wine: |
|
Dear Artisans,
This vintage is the best we've seen from this perennial winner—too bad it's already last call.
If you're a fan of California cult wines, then you're probably familiar with the name Andy Erickson, who followed Heidi Peterson Barrett as winemaker at Screaming Eagle and has gone on to start or consult on a series of successful 100-point scoring wines, including Harlan, Dalla Valle, Favia, Ovid, Dancing Hares, Arietta, Staglin, Hartwell and Jonata.
Impressive resume right? Well, you know the saying: behind every great man, there is a great woman -- and that woman is Andy's wife Annie Favia, who is a legend in her own right. Annie was David Abreu's protege and as viticulturist farmed the grapes for Screaming Eagle and Abreu wines, as well as many of her husband's labels. But aside from being instrumental in these legendary wines, she has her OWN equally majestic label: Favia Wines (Husband Andy Erickson is the winemaker). These are micro-production wines (300 cases or less) that garner massive scores, and customers tell us they've been waiting for years to get on the Favia mailing list.
So this is where Leviathan comes in. It's hard to describe this as simply a "second wine" of Favia, because the quality is so high and the production level so low (under 1,000 cases). Andy and Annie take full advantage of their existing relationships with vineyards throughout California.
"With all of the other projects I work on, for Favia, as well as for my wine-making clients, the focus is always on producing single vineyard, site-specific wines. With Leviathan I have complete latitude to create something unique from many different parts. It is like a brain-teaser, and very fun and exciting. California is rich and diverse in terms of grape-growing regions, and I love working to create something that reflects the best that California has to offer."
- Andy Erickson, Winemaker
The Leviathan wine is a red blend created afresh each vintage, sourced from some of the most coveted vineyards in California. Each year, a percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc are blended together to produce a singular wine, showcasing all the best characteristics of the vintage.
And make no mistake; the Leviathan is no one-hit-wonder. This wine has sold out incredibly fast every year since the first 2006 vintage.
Cheers!
—James Tran
|
|
2020 Leviathan California Red
93 Points - James Suckling:
"Lots of black olive, tar and asphalt with black fruit. Medium to full body with firm and linear tannins that run the length of the wine. This is a multi-region blend with a large percent from Sonoma. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 13% petite syrah, 7% syrah, 5% petit verdot and 4% cabernet franc. Drink or hold."
91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and smaller amounts of Petite Sirah, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, it has some smoky red and black fruits, a touch of spice and leafy herbs, medium body, some firmer tannins, and outstanding length. Drink it over the coming 4-6 years."
90 Points - Vinous:
"The 2020 Leviathan is terrific. Soft and floral, the 2020 impresses with its open-knit personality and overall appeal. Crushed red berry fruit, spice and floral accents lend brightness. The 2020 is not as opulent as most vintages, but that's not a bad thing at all. If anything, the lighter style is quite appealing. Moreover, the tannins are very nicely balanced. Andy Erickson did a fabulous job with this Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend."
- Moon Mountain, Red Hills, Fountaingrove, Coombsville
- Aged in 100% French Oak, 25% new
- 14.9% ABV
|
|
Winery Price: $40.00 btl
Average Online: $40.00 btl
|
|
|
2020 L'Aventure Estate "Optimus"
Willow Creek District, Paso Robles
95 Points - Robert Parker's WA:
"A blend of 58% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Optimus has a deep ruby color and a deep core of red and black cherries, chargrill, thyme, charcuterie and desiccated violet. The full-bodied palate is light on its feet with juicy acidity and approachable grainy tannins, and it has a long, layered finish." - Erin Brooks (December, 2022)
94 Points - James Suckling:
"Grilled meat, bacon fat, tobacco and olives to the nose that follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate with rich, creamy tannins. 58% syrah, 31% cabernet sauvignon, 11% petit verdot. Drink now or hold." (October, 2022)
93 Points - Decanter:
"Tobacco, tar, dark chocolate, floral touches, bitter blood orange, scrubland herbs - so much going on the nose, really aromatic and expressive in a dark, sticky way. Gorgeously lifted and lively, full of bright and crunchy red fruits that you're just not expecting after the nose, this is direct but it has a pristine quality to it. Tannis are fine and the whole taste is just so clean. Juicy, mouthwatering and joyful, really bright and playful, I love the whole lifted tone, almost verging on tangy and sour but just keeps the depth. You get a bit of saltiness too on the finish. I like this a lot, especially the touch of metallic, iron-filing, blood on the finish. Characterful. The first vintage to use an optical sorted at harvest. Ageing 14 months in French oak (65% new and 35% in one year old)."
|
|
List: $70.00 btl
Elsewhere: $70.00 btl
|
|
|
Get in touch!
Text → 650-880-3553
Call → 650-917-8080
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
