By: LA Perkel
Andy Erickson indulged us last night by leading a blending seminar with some of our members. He brought five components that typically make up the blend of his and wife Annie Favia’s Leviathan label. Andy and Annie started making wines under their own Favia label in 2003 focusing mainly on single-vineyard wines from all over Napa Valley. A year later, Andy started playing
around with blending the wines that did not make the cut for Favia. That experiment proved fruitful as Leviathan was promptly born. And not only that, Leviathan also now gets its own vineyard sources as opposed to mainly getting declassified Favia juice.
Andy discussed each component along with the characteristics they bring to a blend. Cabernet 1 was clone 191 from the cooler Coombsville area of Napa, from free-run juice, giving chocolate, cassis, and black cherry along with a luscious mouthfeel. Cabernet 2 was clone 337 from Oakville, from pressed juice giving a tannic backbone and a hint of herbaceousness. Merlot, from the Carneros district of Napa, was juicy with super vibrant acidity contributing roundness to the wine. The Cabernet Franc was aromatically compelling giving off floral, dried tobacco, and licorice and a dense, fleshy texture. The Syrah was expressive with smoke, gravel and scorched earth notes along with a broad palate. The members were then divided into five groups and were let loose to create the 2011 Leviathan ‘Graileys cuvee’. Creative and competitive juices rapidly flowed! Each group tasted the five wine components in front of them, conferring with team members, and deciding on their final blend. The groups then submitted their proprietary blend to Andy for actual blending. Although each participant got a sip of all five blends submitted, Andy was the sole- a sorry position- judge of what was the best blend. Team Ellen’s winning blend of 35% Cab 191, 25% Cab Franc, 20% Syrah, 15% Merlot, and 5% Cab 337 possessed impressive texture and density as well as great fruitiness. I’m documenting the percentages here because when Leviathan 2011 is released, I know someone who will be collecting a case should the final blend be anywhere close to this one!
