Quick Sip: Faust Napa Valley 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
Today’s Quick Sip is the Faust Napa Valley 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. The Faust label is the creation of Chilean born Agustin Huneeus, who has been in the wine industry his entire professional career; starting in 1960 as Chief Executive Officer of well-known Concha y Toro. Along with his wife Valerie, Agustin founded Quintessa in the Rutherford District of Napa Valley in 1990. Where Quintessa specializes in one single-vineyard, estate-grown Meritage blend each year; Faust is a tribute to Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – the appellation’s most important grape variety.
The 2012 growing season was near ideal for Napa Valley growers. Over fifty percent of the fruit for the 2012 bottling was sourced from the Faust 110-acre estate vineyard in the Coombsville district – the valley’s newest sub-appellation, established December of 2011. This total represents the highest percentage of fruit that has ever made it into the final blend -- reflecting both the quality of the vintage and the maturity of the site. The Huneeus family recognized the potential of Coombsville well before it was approved as a sub-appellation, and the deliciousness comes through in the wine. For further information and where you can this Cabernet, please see my tasting notes below.
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| Faust Napa Valley 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon |
Review: Faust Napa Valley 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $49): A brilliant medium-deep purple in color, this wine offers aromas and flavors of black cherry preserve and blueberries along with reticent notes of floral perfume, roasted coffee beans, and dark chocolate bark in the background. On the palate, it is mouth-coating and round, with velvety tannins, soft acidity, and waves of dark berry fruit flavors carrying through the long, satisfying finish. I enjoyed this wine on its own and with a big bowl of soul-warming chili. It would also be a great partner to grilled meats such as beef and venison. I recommend decanting this wine for a short period (or allow it to sit in your glass with a series of vigorous swirls) – I find it fleshes out nicely with thirty minutes or more of air. Region: Napa Valley, California. (Other info: ABV 14.5%, Composition: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 2% Cab Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, aged 19 months in 100% French oak, 30% new, cork enclosure). 90 Points. Click here to find this wine.
