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B-21 Top Recommendation
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“A gorgeous wine that over delivers on all counts”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Renowned as a Napa Cab expert with two 100 pt. Screaming Eagle vintages to his credit, legendary veteran winemaker Andy Erickson knocks it out of the park with the rich and powerful 94 pt. 2021 Leviathan Red, boasting fresh, dark fruit hinting of graphite and savory spice on a satiny smooth finish, called a “seriously affordable, serious California blend” by the Wine Advocate and built to enjoy now and over the next decade.
Born of his desire to create a bold red blend free of the constraints of California’s appellation system, Andy Erickson established the Leviathan project as an ever-changing proprietary mix intended to showcase the best characteristics of each vintage, working in partnership with Agustin Huneeus, the passionate vintner behind Quintessa. With an illustrious resume reading like a who’s who of the region’s top producers including Harlan, Staglin and Mayacamas, Erickson blended mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in the 2021 Leviathan, sourcing it from mountainside parcels ranging from the Faust Vineyard in Napa’s southerly Coombsville AVA to Obsidian Ridge of Red Hills in the northern Mayacamas Mountains. Fermenting and aging each parcel before blending, Erickson utilized a mix of 25% new French oak and 75% two and three year old barrels for 15 months, yielding a rich and layered 2021 Leviathan with enticing aromatics, rich ripe fruit and substantial, supple tannins that’s “already impossible to resist” according to Jeb Dunnuck yet structured to evolve in the cellar.
Calling it “one of the best” Leviathan blends in memory, Vinous critic Antonio Galloni of Vinous credits Erickson’s vast expertise in crafting extraordinary, terroir-driven Napa Cabs, the robust and refined 94 pt. 2021 Leviathan an immensely satisfying pour from one of the region's top winemakers and a sure bet for Napa Cab fans seeking an exceptional value to reach for often over the next decade |
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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.
94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Dec 2023)
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.
93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Dec 2023)
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.
93 points, James Suckling (Jan 2024)
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