Always a good value, the 2021 California Red Wine is no exception and has darker berry fruits, some leafy herb, sage, lavender, and chocolate nuances, full-bodied richness, and a lush, round, seamless style that's already impossible to resist. This is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (with plenty of other red varieties), and it should shine for 7-8 years, if not a decade, although I would drink this puppy in its youth.
Blueberries, black berries, and flowers. Some stone. Spearmint and fresh bay leaves. Medium to full body with layers of juicy tannins that are rounded and textured. Creamy and caressing. 65% cabernet sauvignon with cabernet franc, petite sirah, petit verdot and merlot. Lovely to drink now.
The 2021 Leviathan is fabulous. In fact, the 2021 is one of the best editions of Leviathan I can remember tasting. The purity of the flavors is just remarkable. Dark cherry/plum fruit, spice, new leather and licorice are all dialed up. Shortening the time in barrel from 18-20 months to 14 makes a huge difference in how the wine captures fruit intensity and finesse. Few winemakers know Napa Valley as well as Andy Erickson does.
All of that expertise comes through in a gorgeous wine that over-delivers on all counts.
The 2021 Leviathan Red Wine is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 10% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Sourced from vineyards in the Red Hills AVA, Moon Mountain AVA and Coombsville AVA, it was aged 15 months in 25% new French oak. It leads with hints of crushed stone, then eases into ripe black cherries. Surprisingly, given the myriad components and sources, it's not that complex, but it satisfies the red wine itch at a more than fair price, with ample weight, a ripe, velvety texture and a lingering finish.
TWI
91pts
The Wine Independent
The 2021 Red Wine is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 10% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, and splashes of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it springs from the glass with youthful, eager-to-please notes of juicy blackcurrants, fresh blackberries, and plum preserves leading to wafts of spice cake and mint tea. The full-bodied palate is plush and lively, with bags of expressive black fruits and a spicy lift on the finish.
This has a brambly edge to the core of medium-weight blackberry and black cherry compote flavors, while singed cedar and vanilla underscore the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Syrah, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2026. 24,000 cases made.
Winery Notes
Leviathan was founded in 2004 by winemaker Andy Erickson, former winemaker of Screaming Eagle Winery. The goal was simple: to create one, unique red wine, drawn from some of the best vineyards in Northern California. The resulting bottling, was born of a passion for blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, to create a full bodied wine with a character all of its own. Since then, we have remained true to our goal of producing a rich, distinctly Californian red blend, year after year.