Cervantes Family Vineyards, 'Fair Chase', Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, 2021

Overview of the Wine
Cervantes Family Vineyards is a 1,100 Acre Ranch in the far eastern reaches of Napa Valley last frontier, marks the highest profile project where winemaker Andy Erickson (Favia, Dalla Valle, Mayacamas, Arietta, and formerly of Screaming Eagle, Harlan and Staglin) and Xavier Cervantes Family are growing a text book Napa Valley hill side wines. Where wild deer and bears still roam, giving the feeling of an uncharted feral frontier to these elegant and polish wines.

We wanted to express the full range of our soils with the unique elegance of a white wine, which is lighter but, at the same time, has complexity, richness, character, and the relentless wilderness of our land. Similar to Cervantes Red Wines, it is always adventurous, demanding the best quality and experience. We like to feel whole as we complete the range of grapes that we can grow in our terroirs. Our white wine has an elegant style, is totally dry, has good acidity, and is fresh like cold air. It is complex, well-structured, bright with a round texture. and has a neutral barrel with a sense or place.

We have decided to name our Sauvignon Blanc "Palomino" to finalize that unique character of our land. It is the beautiful golden color of a loyal horse. Nowadays, Palominos from California are the most popular and well-known for being highly spirited, having excellent temperament and unique personality. Overall, they are incredibly curious, alert, gentle, calm, versatile, social, and friendly. And this is exactly what we wanted to share with you... Enjoy!

Winemaker
Andy Erickson

Grape / Blend
79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc, & 3% Petit Verdot

Origin
Napa Valley, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The Fair Chase is sometimes lovingly referred to as the "Mountain Cuveé" and is selected based on the fruit that shows best to the family that vintage and is set aside for this unique bottling. In 2021, the chosen blend included 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc, & 3% Petit Verdot. Andy ferments each varietal separately before blending the cuveé and aging the wine in French oak for roughly 24 months. Savory leather and earth tones mingle with black cherry and dark chocolate aromas, leading to immense, structured tannins on the palate and layered complexity. 

97 Points - Wine Independent
The 2021 Fair Chase is composed of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it rolls out with expressive notes of baked plums, blackcurrant preserves, and boysenberries plus suggestions of crushed rocks, garrigue, and iron ore. The full-bodied palate reveals wonderful energy, with firm, very fine-grained tannins and a lively line supporting the tightly wound fruit, finishing long and layered.

Product size: 750ml