Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 2019

Product info about Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 2019

Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 2019 is a dry red wine from Napa Valley, but from a corner of Napa with a clearly defined identity. Coombsville lies in the south-eastern part of the valley, where gravelly volcanic soils and the influence of San Pablo Bay help shape the style. Favia describes this cuvée as its pure expression of Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon, made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Favia is the project of viticulturist Annie Favia and winemaker Andy Erickson, established in 2003. Their approach focuses on vineyard expression, gentle handling of the fruit and minimal intervention in the cellar. For the 2019 vintage, the available information mentions native yeast fermentation, 50% new oak, and bottling without fining or filtration. The result is a Cabernet that is not simply about ripe fruit, but also about savoury depth, structure and a mineral impression.

At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of Napa Cabernet we like to present when someone is looking for a serious Coombsville wine with cellar potential. The 2019 vintage received striking critical recognition, including very high scores from James Suckling, Vinous, Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator and Jane Anson. Several critics also point to further development in bottle, with drinking windows extending well into the late 2030s and, in some cases, the 2040s.

With only the last bottles remaining, this release feels especially suited to someone who wants to follow a terroir-driven Cabernet Sauvignon as it matures, or open it for a moment that deserves a wine with real presence.

The colour is deep black-purple and highly opaque. Aromatically, it moves through dark and blue fruit, with blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, blueberry, black cherry and cassis. Around that fruit sit savoury and earthy notes of morels, black olive, roasted meat, sage, tobacco, liquorice, menthol and graphite.

On the palate it is powerful and dense, with concentrated fruit and firm yet polished tannins. The texture is described as velvety, while the tannins bring a cocoa-powder impression. Dark chocolate, pencil shavings, crushed stone and occasional smoked meat notes add to the wine's savoury, mineral side. The finish is long, broad and structured.