An infusion of dark cherry, plum, smoke, gravel, bittersweet chocolate and graphite make a strong opening statement in Favia's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville. Vibrant, plush and exotic in its ripeness, the 2016 has a lot to say. Beautifully ripe, silky tannins wrap around the finish. There is so much to look forward to here.

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville hits the palate with serious density and pure power. All of the natural intensity of Oakville Ranch comes through in the glass. Bold, powerful and sumptuous, Favia's Oakville Cabernet is a typical 2015 that will drink well with minimal cellaring, although it also has plenty of potential to develop in bottle. Blackberry jam, licorice, crème de cassis and licorice add substantial weight and substance on this striking Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville comes from Oakville Ranch, perched just below Ovid on Pritchard hill and above Dalla Valle. Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a very deep purple-black color and comes charging out of the glass with vivacious blackberries, blueberry compote and cassis scents with hints of violets, oolong tea, cigar box and fragrant earth. Medium-bodied, the power of this wine comes purely from intensity, with rock-solid, wonderfully ripe tannins and fantastic freshness to support and lift the very long, perfumed finish. 327 cases produced.

Rich, ample and voluptuous, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville is even better today than it was a year ago. This is an especially flamboyant, opulent style, yet all the elements fall into place effortlessly. Today, the 2015 is a total knock-out.

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville comes from Oakville Ranch, perched just below Ovid on Pritchard hill and above Dalla Valle. Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a deep garnet-purple color and opens with classic crème de cassis, baked plums and blackberry pie scents plus nuances of Indian spices, cigar box and potpourri. Full, super concentrated and built like a brick house, it has a firm frame of ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness matching the densely packed layers, finishing with great length and depth. 207 cases produced.

The gem in the 2016s is undeniably the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, which is all Cabernet Sauvignon from the Oakville Ranch vineyard located just above Dalla Valle. This monumental beauty boasts a deep inky color, a huge nose of crème de cassis, crushed rocks, lead pencil shavings, and obvious rocky minerality, full-bodied richness, and tannins and structure galore. It’s going to be a candidate for perfection in 5-7 years and will see its 30th birthday in fine form. It’s a brilliant, brilliant wine.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville has softer tannins, more mid-palate energy and overall resonance than the Coombsville Cabernet. Here it is the wine’s seamless personality and Oakville warmth that really elevate things in a meaningful way. The sheer intensity of the tannins virtually covers the fruit in a huge explosive, massively tannic wine that captures the pedigree of the vintage to the fullest. The 2013 emerges from Clone 7 and Clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon in Oakville Ranch.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon offers beautiful Margaux-like floral notes, sweet blue and black fruits, beautifully integrated ripe tannin, adequate acidity and a judicious use of oak. It’s medium to full-bodied, extremely elegant and discreet, but intense at the same time. This is a beautiful example of combining power with complexity in an age-worthy, complete wine. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.