“Hits all the right marks.” – Decanter

Ahem. Add a 95 to the accolades! Bit of a “told you so” moment here as the scores keep stacking up for our favorite discovery from the 2022 Napa vintage… Cervantes!

Harlan has The Maiden. Screaming Eagle, Second Flight. Cervantes has Fair Chase. And you have it here, for a mere $45 this time. Without a doubt, one of the finest second wines ever bottled… as both Agents Rhône and Noir will testify. under oath that this is one of the most compelling and downright screaming good Cabs we’ve tasted in recent memory.

Speaking of “screaming,” the Eagle kind’s alumnus (2006-2011) Andy Erickson is behind this beauty. Per Robb Report “When it comes to Napa Valley resumes, the ‘Winemaking Experience’ section of Erickson’s reads like a fantasy lineup: Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Staglin, Dalla Valle, Ovid, Mayacamas…”

You’ll shell out much more for many wines by Andy, that’s a given. When we first tasted this at Premiere Napa Valley, we fell HARD for it. Amidst many $300+ best-foot-forward Cabs by Melka, Brown, Rolland, and all… then the entire team concurred at the weekly tasting that it was indeed on another level.

And while the rest of Cervantes’ wines fetch $200+, this seems to have nearly all the same guts for a fraction of the price. This is cut from the same cloth, through and through, at a price to make you blush with the first sip. Wine Advocate is 100% right when they say “Andy Erickson crafts rich, opulent wines for proprietor Xavier Cervantes.”

So, what exactly drew us to this beyond the stupefyingly good juice? It has some magic sauce in it. It’s massively concentrated and fresh at the same time, with a sumptuous core of cassis and cherry Jolly Rancher, minus the cloying sweet sugary part and red dye #40. A dusting of cardamom and baking spice sits between the layers, and the whole thing unfolds across your palate with intensity, suave richness, and layers of fruit that can only rival a kouign amann pastry.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (of The Wine Independent and now The Wine Palate) has the answer: “Pope Valley is usually a secret-sauce component for Napa Valley blends. I can count the number of superstar winemakers who claim to make wines from Pope Valley on two fingers, Thomas Rivers Brown for one. But this Cabernet Sauvignon Erickson showed me was not just outstanding; it was captivating. Wanting to check out this vineyard, I was informed that the location and nature of the site made it a whole-day commitment.”

That “site” is the final frontier of Napa Valley’s Vaca range peaks, part winemaking wizardry. The blend explains some, led by 75% Cabernet, of course, and the difference is split between Malbec and Petite Sirah. They make up this secret sauce with the Malbec filling in blue notes and the Petite Sirah providing the savory bramble, elevating the Cabernet core to new heights layer by layer. This thrilling value is seriously complex today, and will evolve into fine, intellectual maturity, too.

If you can restrain yourself, that is… buy enough to experience both!

95 Points – Decanter (to be published in August) “This Cabernet from Napa’s 2022 vintage hits all the right marks, offering a full-bodied red bursting with dark berry fruit, cola spices, a hint of sagebrush, and slivers of dark chocolate. Fine-grained tannins are nicely integrated, and the finish is juicy, lifted by tangy blood orange acidity.”

94 Points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW “Deep garnet-purple colored. Comes bounding out of the glass with bold notes of juicy plums, baked blackberries, and dark chocolate, followed by nuances of menthol and star anise. Full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of juicy blackberry flavors, supported by grainy tannins and beautiful tension, finishing long and spicy. Drink 2026-2042.”