Cervantes Fair Chase Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021

Many wine-loving people move to Napa Valley, intending to produce boutique, top-quality, awe-inspiring wines.  Some succeed, but creating a wine that is the top echelon, a beloved brand of one's dreams, is infinitely complex.? We are fortunate to have front-row seats to the action, and our palates are dedicated to sharing the news of only the successful ones with you!? So when the word begins to spread amongst collectors and aficionados of this drop-dead gorgeous project, which includes the generous family themselves, their stunning property, and their hardworking and rewarding life, we'll have to tell ourselves not to be territorial when we cannot get a reservation for a private tasting! 

Pope Valley is considered by many to be Napa Valley's final frontier and is a place that still incites excitement and offers unbounded opportunities.  The bucolic corner of our beautiful valley lies just twenty minutes from Main Street in St. Helena, yet it seems worlds apart.  Vineyards have graced Pope Valley since the 19th Century but, by dint of geography, are often overlooked by the casual Napa visitor.  Tucked away behind the imposing hulk of Howell Mountain, Pope Valley appears much as Napa did fifty years ago: undulating hills crisscrossed with country lanes peppered with neatly planted rows of vines.  And as the more well-known sub-regions of Napa Valley reach their maximum planting capacity, more and more vintners are turning to this hidden treasure to stake their claim on some of the valley's last premier acres. 

The gregarious Xavier Cervantes is one such enterprising individual.  For seven years, he sought an ideal spot to plant vineyards and build a winery in world-famous locales such as Rutherford, Pritchard Hill, and Oakville.  Xavier had been in escrow several times, only to be disappointed to see his plans slip through his fingers at the last minute.  But that would certainly not deter this talented real estate entrepreneur who is originally from Mexico City.  Then, in the 11th hour, he discovered a pristine parcel of land in Pope Valley.  What Xavier found here in Pope Valley was a blank slate with unlimited potential: rocky, complex soils, an abundance of sunshine, and the ability to leave his mark on the region for generations to come. 

The Cervantes Estate represents the highest-profile venture yet in Pope Valley and is 1,100 acres of absolutely stunning beauty.  Xavier transformed this Eden by planting Bordeaux varietals and fruit orchards and constructing an equestrian facility and trout ponds.  When acclaimed winemaker Andy Erickson (Favia, Dalla Valle, Mayacamas, Arietta, and formerly of Screaming Eagle and Staglin) visited and walked the rows with Xavier to discuss his vision, he was smitten with the place and happily agreed to yet another project with limitless possibility. ?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.