"Blending is one of the most enjoyable and most creative parts of the winemaking process,” says winemaker, Andy Erickson. “
Andy knows a thing or two about making wines in California. Not just any wines, he has been winemaker at some of the most legendary wineries in The United States and is now even dabbling in historic places like South Africa.
His resumé is extensive, Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Spottswoode, Ovid, Dalla Valle, Staglin, Favia, Mayacamas, Mulderbosch.
Andy is producing a wine at Leviathan that is pretty damn delicious. It's not trying to be a Cult Red or Collectors trophy wine. It's about using some of the best grapes and sites available to the winemaker and making a great wine.
The blend varies each vintage, in 2011 it was 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 13% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot. You can enjoy the wine and pick up nuances each time you smell. Sometimes getting a little plum from the Merlot, a violet from Cabernet Franc, spices from Syrah.
The wine only sees about 50% New French oak, however stays in for a long time, 23 months for all the flavors to merge and create a unique wine.
This Sommelier Feature is one for the battle ground, a fighter and true warrior. Stand it up to wines twice the price and taste test for yourself. I'm confident you will find that good grapes make good wines, but great winemakers make great wines.
About Leviathan:
Leviathan is a rich, full wine with vibrant texture. Its complex flavors are derived from a unique blend which highlights the best of California -- carefully fine-tuned each vintage to create a bold, rich, enticing wine. Though this uniquely blended wine is worthy of cellaring, it is intended to be consumed in its youth, showcasing its bright, fruit-driven character.
Founded by Annie Favia and Andy Erickson in 2004, Leviathan's goal is to produce the best California red wine in a given vintage drawing on vineyard sources across the state forming a unique blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot.Tapping into their collective 35 years of industry experience in both the field and cellar, and with stints at some of Napa Valley's most heralded properties, this couple crafts Leviathan from the best of what California has to offer every year.
Vinified by winemaker Andy Erickson, Leviathan is a rich, full wine with vibrant texture. Its complex flavors are derived from a unique blend which highlights the best of California -- carefully fine-tuned each vintage to create a bold, rich, enticing wine. Though this uniquely blended wine is worthy of cellaring, it is intended to be consumed in its youth, showcasing its bright, fruit-driven character. The imagery that best captures this wine is Leviathan -- a monstrous sea creature, powerful and mysterious.
Le”vi”a”than [li-vahy-uh-thuhn], noun !!!!! Etymology: middle English, from late Latin, from Hebrew liwyathan, date: 14th century 1. Often capitalized: a monstrous sea creature 2. Something unusually large or formidable
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