2008 La Magdalena
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Tasting notes
Dark, bright red. The nose shows more red fruits than the Cerro Sur, with lovely lift to the aromas of cherry, redcurrant, licorice and graphite. Then surprisingly tight and clenched on the palate and more medicinal than the Cerro Sur, displaying some aromatic spice notes of cinnamon, cardamom and cumin along with suggestions of dried fruits. Concentrated, backward, firmly structured wine with good medicinal reserve and slightly drying tannins. In a clenched phase, with its sweetness suppressed; I'd hold this for a few more years before pulling the cork. This is entirely from Madrona Ranch in St. Helena, while the Cerro Sur is from cooler Coombsville.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2008 La Magdalena is totally effortless from start to finish. The essence of dark fruit, asphalt, wild flowers and mocha is beautifully layered in this rich, harmonious wine. The 2008 should be at its finest over the next decade or so.
The 2008 La Magdalena is totally effortless from start to finish. The essence of dark fruit, asphalt, wild flowers and mocha is beautifully layered in this rich, harmonious wine. The 2008 should be at its finest over the next decade or so. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. Viticulturist Annie Favia and her husband, winemaker Andy Erickson, are the forces behind Favia. Both Favia and Erickson boast impressive resumes. Favia has worked alongside a number of luminaries including David Abreu and John Kongsgaard, while Erickson has been involved in a number of high-profile projects including Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle and Ovid. I tasted three wines from Favia. Cerro Sur is a Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon blend. The Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from vineyards in St. Helena and Coombsville, and includes a small percentage of Petit Verdot. La Magdalena is a Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Madrona Ranch, David Abreu’s vineyard in St. Helena. All of the wines are made with indigenous yeasts and bottled without fining or filtration. Tel. (707) 256-0875; www.faviawines.com
(from David Abreu's Madrona Ranch property in St. Helena; a 75/25 blend of cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon): Bright ruby-red. Vibrant aromas of redcurrant, cherry, licorice and violet. Fine-grained, suave and utterly seamless, with lovely floral lift. This essentially gentle wine finishes sweet and long, with a fine dusting of tannins and noteworthy breadth. Winemaker Andy Erickson describes this as the most European in style of the three Favia reds, and most appreciated by the New York market.
About the producer
Favia is the personal project of cult winemaker Andy Erickson and leading viticulturalist and winemaker Annie Favia. Working in Coombsville and Oakville, they craft single-site, elegant expressions of top Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc that are some of the valley’s highest-rated.