Faust Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2023 750ml +14%

Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Faust winery (part of the Huneeus family, also behind Quintessa). It's a modern, polished Napa Valley Cab that emphasizes balance, freshness, and approachability while retaining structure for aging.

Key Details

• Producer: Faust Wines, with winemaking by David Jelinek and estate direction by Jen Beloz.
• Vineyard Sources: Primarily from the Faust Estate Vineyard in Coombsville (a cooler, volcanic-soil AVA in southeastern Napa with marine influence, contributing minerality and freshness), supplemented by fruit from other Napa sites like Rutherford, Oakville, and Yountville. The Coombsville portion gives it a distinctive savory, structured edge.
• Winemaking: Aged 20 months in French oak (about 25% new). The 2023 vintage reflects a long, cool growing season in Napa, leading to good acidity, purity, lower alcohols (often under 15%), and elegant rather than overly ripe or jammy styles.

Tasting Notes

Winemaker and retailer descriptions highlight an elegantly structured and polished wine with excellent balance between freshness and richness.

• Aroma: Black currant, cassis, blackberry, red and dark fruits, with cool forest floor notes, oak spice, bay laurel, fragrant underbrush, star anise, crushed stones, dried herbs, flowers, and a savory/meaty undertone (salt-cured meat or tobacco). Some notes mention graphite or wet slate minerality.
• Palate: Concentrated flavors of Luxardo cherry, blueberry compote, dark cocoa, black cherry, and sometimes espresso or toasted spice. It has a silken/silky mouthfeel, fine-grained tannins, a succulent minerally finish, and a backbone of acidity that provides lift and length. It's described as tightly woven, broad yet velvety, with good nerve and approachability young, while having the structure to age.
• Style: Bold and powerful in the classic Napa sense but elegant and not over-extracted—think ripe fruit with savory complexity and polish rather than pure power. Early user notes on CellarTracker praise its plush texture, dark fruit, supple tannins, and aging potential (one 91-point note from early 2026).

It pairs well with grilled or roasted red meats, aged cheeses, or hearty dishes where the fruit and structure can shine.

Ratings and Vintage Context

Specific critic scores for the 2023 Faust Napa Valley Cabernet (not the higher-end "The Pact" bottling) are still emerging, but early impressions align with the structured, fresh style of the 2023 Napa vintage overall. The cooler, extended season favored elegance and energy in Cabernets.