Tom Garland

9.4

+1hour decant(decent sediment). A wondrous deep purplish magenta color. On the nose: expressive perfumed notes of blackberry, dark plum, eucalyptus, herbaceous, cigar box, dark chocolate. Taste: silky, opulent, structured teeth staining wine with dark cherry/blackberry, loamy soil, dark chocolate, and long minerally cedar finish. YUM!! 1st vintage and aging nicely...from the famed To Kalon vineyard and made by Andy Erickson. — 2 months ago

with Brenda

David Shaw

9.2

Mexican-Style Chocolate Stout. 8.1% alc/vol Foamy brown on pour, slightly syrupy mouthfeel, slight sweetness. Smell of hops, vanilla, cinnamon, flavor of chocolate, hop bitterness, hints of nutmeg and Padilla chili pepper. I suspect it’s all chocolate malt here, and nary a cacao nib. Still, very well crafted and tasty — 4 years ago

Allison Brookins

10

Erickson fine wines Recommendation — 5 years ago

Mike R

9.5

I love cab franc dominant Napa valley wines - I love Andy Erickson wines - I was not planning multiple bottle Friday but the bottles were going down so smoothly and night was young we just had to do it - going to make my golf tournament today a little tougher but it was worth it

This wine was speaking clearly and loudly - man did this wine have gorgeous legs - and it was such a vibrant color in the decanter and the glass - deep ruby red - then a small whiff and man did I get excited - caramel mixed with red and blue fruits - tasting was mind blowing - I mean we tasted after drinking a great bottle previously and it was able to stand out - and it got better as the glasses were being poured - I wish this could go for years but fear based on this bottle will have five more years but it is drinking perfectly - all smiles on a Friday night — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Arietta Wines lunch with owner Fritz. We were able to taste through some current releases as well as some reserve wines Fritz brought with him personally. A treat to enjoy these Andy Erickson wines!

Definitely the most fun wine on the table. Merlot and Syrah blend. I believe this is around the time John Kongsgaard was leaving and Andy Erickson was arriving. Quite wild, and both sweet and savory. Black cherry tart, peppercorn crusted rhubarb, red licorice, and a sweet smoke to the nose. Tangy red fruits, espresso and cocoa bits on the palate with a finish that shows tea leaf and fig. Delicious! — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Arietta Wines lunch with owner Fritz. We were able to taste through some current releases as well as some reserve wines Fritz brought with him personally. A treat to enjoy these Andy Erickson wines!

This felt like it was just starting to hit its drinking window. Very pretty and aromatic. Potpourri, lavender, dusted dark cocoa bits, plum and savory smoke on the nose with underripe blackberries, baking spices and nutmeg. Lovely. — 7 years ago

Joe D'Angelo

9.5

The 2016 ‘Quarzo’ Syrah is drop dead stunning. Sourced from Ann Kraemer's Shake Ridge Ranch this instantly grabs your attention with its dark inky color and vibrant aromatics of ripe black cherries, fresh violets, smoked bacon, black olives and hints of earthy minerals all exploding from the glass. On the palate this is full-bodied, fresh and layered with a center of juicy dark fruits, black olives and violets that burst on to the long supple finish. This is a total gem of a Syrah from Andy Erickson and Annie Favia that is simply delicious now, but will certainly continue to evolve incredibly well over the next decade. — 7 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

A winemaker dinner with Andy Erickson(Favia). Has made wine in the past for Screaming Eagle, Ovid, Dalla Valle, etc.

WINE:
2024 Favia Linea sav blanc
2017 Favia Linea sav blanc from 3L
2021 Favia Cerro Sur red wine
2021 Favia cab sav, Coombsville
2022 Favia cab sav, Oakville
2006 Favia Quarzo Syrah

FOOD:
Pacific lobster cannoli
Pork belly arancini
Elk carpaccio
Venison New York strip
Chocolate souffle cake — 8 months ago

with Brenda

Martinez

9.4

Vega Sicilia’s entry-level red, 100% Tempranillo from 30 years old vineyards in Padilla, Valbuena de Duero y Pesquera de Duero. Modern-style Ribera del Duero. Aged in French oak barrels for 12-14 months. Dark ruby color. Complex nose with aromas of red and dark fruit (dark cherry, ripe blackberries), smoke, mint, sweet spices and a whiff of vanilla. Pure, fresh and juicy. Medium to full bodied, silky, very elegant, balanced. Good acidity — 4 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.8

Thats some great juice @Benoit Touquette wine.👍🏼
Winery notes

STORY

Benoit Touquette has continued to serve as winemaker since 2006.

The first vines the family planted were one acre of Bosche clone Cabernet Sauvignon grafted to budwood provided by Dick Grace of Grace Family Vineyards. The first few vintages were also made at Grace Family Vineyards, until the winery on the estate was completed, with Andy Erickson as winemaker. The winery's first release was an estate Cabernet Sauvignon in 1990, which sold out immediately, and with subsequent vintages, Hartwell established a reputation for fine Cabernet Sauvignon.

Over the years, other parcels of the property were planted, allowing the winery to produce other Cabernet Sauvignons, as well as Merlot, a red dessert wine, and a red wine blend. In 2006, the Hartwells purchased a 4.5-acre vineyard in Carneros from which they produce a Bordeaux-inspired Sauvignon Blanc, and brought acclaimed winemaker Benoit Touquette on board to oversee production.


Hartwell Vineyards was founded in 1986 when Bob Hartwell purchased 90 acres of Wappo Hill—the half of Wappo Hill not owned by Robert Mondavi—in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley.

The fruit for the T5 Cabernet Sauvignon hails from the highest point on the Hartwell estate, blocks 14 and 15, which were planted to Bosche clone 30 years ago. The 100% Cabernet wine ages for two years in T5 barriques, rare and prized barrels from famed French cooperage house, Taransaud. These barrels are toasted and crafted from five-year seasoned staves by coopers who have been awarded the title of “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” (Best Craftsman in France). Much like some of the finest wines, they are available only to a select list of customers due to their limited availability.

Each year, a mere 100 cases of Hartwell T5 are produced, available only by allocation to members of the T5 Cabernet Sauvignon wine club. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Arietta Wines lunch with owner Fritz. We were able to taste through some current releases as well as some reserve wines Fritz brought with him personally. A treat to enjoy these Andy Erickson wines!

In the running for my favorite red out of the flight. Basically a copy of the normal Hudson merlot but wrapped in a velvet like structure. Glycerin and elixir like in how plush and sexy it is. Added density and heft. Built really big but lots of restraint. Would love to try this again in 10yrs. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Arietta Wines lunch with owner Fritz. We were able to taste through some current releases as well as some reserve wines Fritz brought with him personally. A treat to enjoy these Andy Erickson wines!

Classically styled and balanced. Very reminiscent of Spottswoode’s SB. Floral with tart fruit and medium acidity. Lots of lemon-lime here but also melon. Crushed rocks. Vibrant. — 7 years ago

Peter Hladun

9.1

New Pinot project from Andy Erickson and Patrick Nyeholt. Vineyard near Littorai and fits somewhere between an old and new world wine. Some time in bottle would benefit this wine. — 2 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.8

Nice ripe black fruit on the nose. Dense plush yet supple tannins hold together a gorgeous black fruit forward taste with an incredibly plush mouthfeel. Crème de cassis, lead, graphite, dark chocolate. Big and bold, incredibly structured. Finish that lingers for 45+ seconds. Drinking fantastic pnp now. Could have decades left, but I doubt my last few bottles will make it that long. Amazing wine from Andy Erickson that JD gave a 99, and is tasting almost perfect now. — 4 years ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.3

One of the most ambitious new entrants to the Napa luxury wine scene sits high up on Atlas Peak. In true “modern Napa” form, Seven Apart @sevenapart is a spare-no-expense project that is the work of financier Don Dady and NFL star Jason Kyle. Andy Erickson of @faviawines is their inaugural winemaker. Deep black cherry and cassis and tobacco morph into licorice and dried flowers and dried herbs on the journey across the palate. Sumptuous and polished, but with excellent acidity and an admirably restrained 14.1% alcohol. The bottle, as you’d expect from such a venture, is offensively heavy, but the wine is good. This is the remains of a press sample. — 5 years ago

Dimes

9.0

Yeah one of the best cabs I’ve ever bought for less than $15 bucks hit it with that pesto and some big city blues — 6 years ago

Ignacio Sarmiento

9.1

Deer Vallley - Stein Erickson — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Arietta Wines lunch with owner Fritz. We were able to taste through some current releases as well as some reserve wines Fritz brought with him personally. A treat to enjoy these Andy Erickson wines!

As expected, an iron fist in a velvet glove type wine. Lots of similarities in profile and structure to the reserve merlot, with a more expansive mid palate. Very dark, but whereas the reserve merlot has red fruit to balance it, this is accompanied by sweet and cold blue fruits. This is a very pretty cabernet that has the stuffing to cruise for quite a while. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Arietta Wines lunch with owner Fritz. We were able to taste through some current releases as well as some reserve wines Fritz brought with him personally. A treat to enjoy these Andy Erickson wines!

Made in a bordeaux Blanc style with the use of oak. Very creamy and soft with a rich kiwi, grapefruit and powdered lemon bar aromatics. Soft at first but a surprising amount of acidity at the finish. Lingering notes of stone and tropical fruits. Really enjoyed this. It’s as though someone blended Spottswoode’s SB with Aesthete’s SB. — 7 years ago

Chris Shott

9.0

¡Ay, Dios mío! — 7 years ago