2004 Favia La Josefina Pinot Noir, 1.5ltr

Favia Erickson Winegrowers was started in 2003 by Annie Favia and Andy Erickson. The couple are both Napa Valley winemakers with formidable resumes. Favia worked for John Kongsgaard and David Abreu, among others, and Erickson has been a winemaker at Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle and other wineries. The couple owns vineyards but also sources grapes from Amador County and Napa Valley. They make Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, as well as Viognier and Rhone-style blends. The wines are generally available only via Favia’s mailing list.

Russian River Valley AVA is named for the river that meanders from Mendocino County in the north until it finally runs into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. The AVA is cool thanks to its proximity to the northern California coast and the river, and grape growers must learn to deal with regular fog. Nevertheless in recent decades the AVA has become one of the best in the state, meaning that its wines often earn excellent reviews and have considerable cachet. The AVA status was awarded in 1983 and today the appellation has 15,000 vineyard acres. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape though Pinot Noir has also been very successful in recent decades. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir are known for being rich, lush and filled with concentrated fruit and berry flavors. Russian River Pinot Noirs are today considered some of the best domestic Pinot Noirs.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.