Faust Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2022

Faust Cabernet Sauvignon  is made from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.  This Cabernet is a blend of their Coombsville vineyard fruit with lots from other cool sites in the valley—sets the bar for elegant balance in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2021, cooler-than average temperatures produced that balance naturally, with flavors and tannins reaching maturity against a backdrop of ideal acidity levels. The wine is deliciously versatile, with generously ripe fruit that makes it an appealing sip on its own, but also enough lively acidity to make it an ideal partner for a range of foods.

The new release is finally here from outstanding winemaking team of Michel Rolland, Charles Thomas, Andy Erickson and David Jelenik. If you haven’t heard the chatter about the 2022 vintage in Napa yet, believe it’s coming. This was a monster vintage both in size and in quality. Of course, with the firepower behind this winemaking team, you can expect this to be one of the very best best quality-to-price ratios of 2022. This is a full-bodied a racy mix of Coombsville fruit from Atlas Peak that absolutely roars out of the bottle. Always one of Napa’s great bargains and a must have even as the price starts to sneak up here a little bit.

A simple premise underlies all of Agustin Huneeus’ wines: great wines reflect great vineyards. Faust is a wine that also pays tribute to a grape, Cabernet Sauvignon, arguably Napa Valley’s noblest grape at its rich, full-bodied peak.

Faust combines fruit from the Huneeus family vineyards in Rutherford and Coombsville, their Napa Valley appellation in the eastern foothills south of Atlas Peak. Agustin’s relationships with growers in other Napa appellations, including Yountville, Mount Veeder, Atlas Peak, St. Helena, and Rutherford, round out the complexity of the wine with small lots from spectacular mountain and valley terroirs.

Crafted at the state-of-the-art Quintessa winery in Rutherford, grapes were hand-picked, double-sorted, gently crushed and then cold-soaked and fermented in stainless steel and French oak vessels. The wine macerated on skins for up to three weeks following fermentation then transferred to French oak barrels (30% new, 70% single use) to age for 19 months.

Faust is a benchmark in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon opening with a perfume of red and black cherries, ripe raspberry, and violet. Lush blackberry, cassis, coffee, and dark chocolate flavours follow with a long and complex finish of dark fruit. Pair with BBQ beef ribs, aged cheddar or other bold dishes.