Voluptuous and rich, the 2003 FAY Cabernet Sauvignon yields full, expressive notes of red currant, black cherry, and cocoa as well as more subtle impressions of nutmeg, rosemary and vanilla. The savory fruit flavors are beautifully integrated with fine-grained, silky tannins and balanced acidity. The 2003 FAY is enticing in its youth, but was built to age.

Compared to the classically structured S.L.V., FAY wines are typically more extroverted and voluptuous, and that holds true for the 1999 vintage. The nose is filled with cassis, black cherry, and vanilla, but any expectation that this is just another fruity Cabernet is dispelled when your lips touch the glass and you encounter the wine’s full statement of cassis ringed by dried cranberry, raspberry and plum, woven through with a ribbon of rich caramel. Taste again, and the cassis switches into a different key as your mouth fills with jammy fruit and anise, followed by a long finish perfumed with sandalwood and spice. FAY has worked its seductive powers yet again.

This wine opens with inviting aromas of dark raspberry, mocha and vanilla with a hint of red licorice. This vintage also shows the signature bright cherry note of the vineyard. The aromas are followed by red and blue fruit flavors that meld with black licorice, black raspberry tea and sage on the palate. The wine has a sweet fruit entry with structured tannins – promising long life in the cellar – and a lingering floral note on the finish.

The 2011 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon has a lovely core of red berry fruit along with bigger tannins and a pleasing cardamom note on the finish. The wine’s structured tannins, concentrated fruit core and pleasing minerality point to this wine’s ability to age.

The 2013 S.L.V. offers intriguing aromas of dark chocolate, currant, date, licorice and baking spice. This top-rated Napa Cabernet is full bodied with layered, complex flavors of black currant, wild berry, graphite and vanilla that lead to a bold, yet silky finish. The wine’s structured tannins, rich fruit, and pleasing minerality point to this wine’s ability to age.

In its youth, this wine rewards those who let it sit in the glass and open up before discovering its generous character. At first, it presents dark fruit and floral aromas, then an earthy hint of rosemary and black truffle. Similar flavors unfold, including dark cherry, blueberry and plum that join with cocoa powder and spiced vanilla. This mouthfilling wine builds in richness and density through its long, smooth finish.