Faust 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Magnum 1.5L

The case for Faust 2023 as the best-value 96-point Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon of the vintage has already been made definitively by James Suckling and confirmed by every serious retailer who has tasted it. The case for the 1.5-liter magnum format is made by physics: larger vessels age more slowly, more gracefully, and more completely than standard bottles. The ratio of wine to the small amount of oxygen that enters through the cork after bottling is more favorable in a magnum, producing a longer, more harmonious development curve that consistently rewards the patient drinker with greater complexity and greater integration than the same wine in a standard bottle achieves over the same time period.

For a wine of Faust's specific character — the volcanic Coombsville mineral freshness and wet-slate precision that Agustín Huneeus built his second Napa estate to produce, the 96-point Suckling recognition, the "real nerve and approachability young, with ample aging potential" characterization — the magnum is the ideal vessel. Drink it now at a dinner for six, pouring from a single bottle with the ceremonial generosity that the magnum format provides. Or cellar it with the knowledge that the 2023's exceptional vintage quality and the magnum's superior aging trajectory will produce something remarkable in 2028, 2030, or beyond.

Either decision is the right one. The magnum simply gives you more of both.

Origins, Craftsmanship & Critics Reviews

(All production details, vineyard sources, winemaker notes, and critical recognition as described in the standard 750ml listing above. 96 Points James Suckling. Coombsville volcanic estate + Rutherford. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 20 months 25% new French oak. Agustín Huneeus, founder of Quintessa.)

Tasting Profile

Identical to the standard 750ml expression — the 1.5L magnum contains the same wine from the same lots. Over time in the cellar, the magnum will develop with greater complexity and more complete integration than the standard bottle, the larger format's superior volume-to-surface-area ratio providing the slower, more graceful aging trajectory that serious collectors specifically seek.

Nose: Cool forest notes, bay laurel, fragrant underbrush, Luxardo cherry, blueberry compote, crushed stones, wet-slate minerality, star anise, dried herbs, salt-cured meat.

Palate: Tightly woven, silken mouthfeel — fine tannins, Luxardo cherry, blueberry compote, dark cocoa, sweet toast, persistent acidity, wet-slate mineral backbone.

Finish: Succulent, mineral, and endlessly persistent. Wet slate and fine tannins carry the close with elegance and considerable length.

Quick Overview

Serving & Occasion

Serve at 60–65°F in a large Bordeaux bowl. Decant 30–45 minutes. The magnum serves six generously — making it the natural format for a dinner party, a milestone celebration, or any occasion where a single bottle's presence at the table should make a statement. The 2023's exceptional vintage quality and the magnum's superior aging trajectory make it equally compelling opened now or cellared through 2035–2038. Outstanding alongside grilled ribeye, roasted lamb, braised short ribs, wild mushroom preparations, and aged hard cheeses.