2015 Favia La Magdalena

Just about pure perfection in a class, the 2015 La Magdalena is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with 28% Cabernet Franc, all of which spent 22 months in a mix of new and used French oak. Thrilling notes of bloody blueberries, forest floor, crushed violets, and hints of iron all flow to an inky colored, powerful, full-bodied, yet truly seamless Cabernet Sauvignon that does everything right. Complex, layered, powerful, and elegant, readers should beg, borrow, or steal to get a hold of this beauty.

The 2015 La Magdalena comes from the Oakville Ranch vineyard. It is composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Cabernet Franc aged 22 months in oak and another year in bottle. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sings of rose hip tea, menthol, wild sage and charred soil with a core of red and black currants, black cherries and cassis plus a touch of crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, very firm and solidly constructed, it has a great core of tightly wound, muscular fruit with loads of mineral accents and a long, elegantly layered finish. 279 cases produced.

Favia's 2015 La Magdalena is a blend of equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, all from Oakville Ranch. A rush of black cherry, plum, chocolate, spice, licorice and cloves infuse this dark, sumptuous Napa Valley red. There is a real unctuousness to the fruit, with distinct contributions from the Franc in both the wine's aromatic intensity and structural profile.