2021 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

You can practically smell Faust Vineyard before you can see it.

One of the first marquee sites in Coombsville, planted in 1998 by the same team behind Quintessa, it’s among the most distinctive sites in southern Napa. Aromas of herbaceous bay leaves and the salty air of the San Pablo Bay waft over the hills as you approach, complemented by undertones of dusty earth. Located in one of the coolest subzones in Napa and veined with volcanic rocks and ash, the vineyard produces dense, rich, savory wines that sommeliers can instantly pick out of a lineup.

No surprise, considering that the founders of the vineyard, Agustin and Valeria Huneeus, have a knack for discovering Napa’s most potent sites. In 1989, Valeria—a microbiologist and viticulturist by training—found a plot that would become the cornerstone of Quintessa, now a 100-point legend in California winemaking. Nine years later, ignoring those who said Coombsville was too cold and rugged, she staked out the acres now known as Faust Vineyard.

Their 2021 Faust Cabernet combines that prime estate fruit with sites that Huneeus and his team have carefully sought over their years as some of the most important operators in Napa. Crafted by Faust winemaker David Jelinek—who formerly crafted mega-hit Cabernets for Harlan, Joseph Phelps, and Groth—it’s aged a full 20 months in 25% new French oak from the best coopers out there: only Seguin Moreau, Taransaud and François Frères make the cut. 

The result is a stunning wine that any fan of Napa Cabs will be lucky to enjoy.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Acidity
• Tannin

• ABV 14.50%
• 1 hour
• Now – 2035
• % Cabernet Sauvignon
• Serving temperature – 58°
• Cork