“Andy Erickson crafts rich, opulent wines for proprietor Xavier Cervantes.” – Wine Advocate

Harlan has The Maiden. Screaming Eagle, Second Flight.

But screw all that. We’re putting our integrity on the line today.

Because Cervantes has Fair Chase. And you have it here, while it lasts, for $50.

You might think we’ve gone mad comparing this to such legendary wines.

I assure you, we have not. And both Agents Rhone and Noir will testify. under oath that this is one of the most compelling and downright screaming good Cabs we’ve EVER sold on this site. Ever.

Of course, it does have Screaming Eagle alumnus (2006-2011) Erickson behind it. Per Robb Report “When it comes to Napa Valley resumes, the ‘Winemaking Experience’ section of Andy Erickson’s reads like a fantasy lineup: Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Staglin, Dalla Valle, Ovid.”

And yea, we didn’t even mention the 97 points it earned from The Wine Independent for the 2021?

While no reviews yet exist on this young 2022, we feel compelled to grant it an equally large number.

Let’s just try this way too, IT’S EASILY ONE OF THE BEST YOUNG CABS I HAVE EVER TASTED, says Noir.

And that’s putting it mildly. Did you see that price?! Since he discovered it during PNV a month ago and fell head over heels. And this was amidst a sea of $300+ best-foot-forward efforts from Philippe Melka, Thomas Brown, and all. (Honorable mentions to Fairest Creature, Moon Tsai, etc.), mind you.

So, yea, we all concurred at the weekly tasting that it was indeed on another level. And begrudgingly let him take the sample home. He sipped it slowly over a week, and on day 7, it was as fresh as day one. An unnamed wine next to it, more than triple the price, was long gone. It makes perfect sense when the top tier Cervantes line is sparsely out there in the $200-300 range.

This is cut from the same cloth, through and through, at a price to make you blush with the first sip.

We could encourage you to clean us out. But he’d rather see it last long enough to drink all that’s left. We will be taking cases of it home for our own stash. Believe that.

(Oh, and we also have an exclusive on it, so dear competitors, if you’re reading this, you’re too late. The ship sailed, and you’re left in the wake. Our Ops are the chosen ones to enjoy this until it’s gone. Try ‘em next time!)

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. 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.

The Wine Independent has the answer: “A few years ago, I sat with consultant winemaker Andy Erickson to taste one of his new projects. It came from Pope Valley. Huh. Not a lot of Napa Valley wines profess to come from this outlier area. Fruit from 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.”

Part site, which 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, Malbec filling in blue notes and Petite Sirah providing the savory bramble, elevating the Cabernet core to new heights layer by layer. This may appear to be a “value” Cab to many, but it’s seriously complex and will evolve into fine, intellectual maturity too.

Time is fleeting. Invest in a case or more while it’s still here; you WILL be grateful.