Favia - Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville

Decanter.com

97 / 100

par Georgina Hindle le 04/09/2023

Full and alive on the nose, ripe, fragrant and heady, supple and agile, this has energy but is also quite strict with imposing yet fine tannins with pure fruit that makes it lighter and less fleshy than the nose suggests with a juicy, succulent core underneath. This is well sculpted, and although you can feel the 15% alcohol, the acidity gives the expression lift and sense of bold fun. Stunning detail and plenty of fruit that stays the right side of being too ripe with spiced angles and a sense of clear construction and purpose. A lovely chewiness comes towards the end alongside minerality in the soft salty and flinty undercurrent, but there is also some sweet tobacco and sticky black liquorice notes on the final flavour that give contrast and nuance.

The Drink Business

97 / 100

par Colin Hay le 31/08/2023

Oaky and quite sweet-tinged. Raspberry and loganberry, coconut and vanilla. Liquid chocolate. Spicy, incredibly compact and intense and very impressive in its density and purity. This evolves graciously over the palate and is very long on the finish. Incredibly fine-grained tannins. Texturally viscous but so fresh too. Such a baby but a monster too – baby Godzilla.

The Wine Independent

96 / 100

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 21/08/2023

The single-varietal 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville is deep garnet-purple in color. It rockets from the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blackcurrants, kirsch, and wild blueberries giving way to hints of crushed rocks, bay leaves, and graphite. The full-bodied palate is rich and seductive, with loads of bright mineral and red berry sparks and a firm, grainy texture, finishing long and layered. This is nicely done!

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

97 / 100

par Jane Anson le 03/07/2023

Intense and concentrated, showcasing the nuanced results of the Erikson's exceptionally intuitive approach to viticulture and winemaking. Layers of velvet tannins capturing the plump cassis and blueberry fruit and setting it against deep slabs of tapenade, graphite, crayon, cloves, tea and black chocolate. Hard to argue with, compelling and just rather delicious - a clear sign that cooler-climate Coombsville is a place to look for in the intense 2020 vintage. 50% new oak. Natural yeasts, low intervention, no filtering or fining.

Decanter.com

97 / 100

par Jonathan Cristaldi le 06/06/2023

From winemaker, Andy Erickson comes this heady, perfumed Cabernet with excellent weight and plenty of tannins. Fruit-driven due to a slight backing of new oak in this vintage, blackberry and cherry lead the way, followed by cedarwood, sage leaf and bay laurel. Sumptuous, dense, and compact with long beams of very present yet compact tannins and excellent grip. Almost crunchy acidity is framed by graphite minerality, and the wine shows the intensity and power balanced by the freshness typical of Erickson’s winemaking. Sourced from three Coombsville vineyards: Meteor, The Rabbit Hole, and Collinetta. ‘We worked our asses off to make this wine,’ Erickson mused at his Coombsville estate. The Favia Wines are now featured on La Place de Bordeaux, and that comes with international attention Erickson sees the wines head to new markets around the globe, from Paris to the Philippines and Uruguay.

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

par Joe Czerwinski le 31/03/2023

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville reveals a bit more sage and redder fruit than the 2018 or 2019, backed by cassis notes. No, it's not as dense or concentrated as the previous two vintages, but it's still a solid effort that doesn't appear—at least to this taster—to show any smoke taint. It's medium to full-bodied, silky and fine, with some tea-like notes on the lingering finish.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94 / 100

par Jeb Dunnuck le 16/02/2023

Looking at the 2020s, these are all solid, enjoyable wines. The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville has plenty of cassis and darker, almost black fruits as well as tobacco and spice. Nicely textured, medium to full-bodied, and balanced, it has solid tannins (which can be problematic in the vintage) and a great finish. Drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years.

Jamessuckling.com

97 / 100

par James Suckling le 12/09/2022

Loads of lead-pencil aromas, together with blackcurrant and oyster-shell notes that follow through to a medium to full body with a solid core of fruit and a long finish. It’s tight, with a compact mouth-feel. Give it two or three years. Better after 2025.