Leviathan Red Blend

Leviathan Red Blend is a Cabernet Sauvignon-driven California red blend bottled at 14.9% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2022 vintage earned 92 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, and the wine is made by Andy Erickson, whose résumé includes a tenure as winemaker at Screaming Eagle — one of Napa Valley's most revered estates.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.9%  |  Origin: California (Napa, Sonoma, Lake County)  |  Red Blend  |  Winemaker: Andy Erickson

Production & Heritage

Leviathan is Andy Erickson's personal project, built on a philosophy of sourcing fruit from the best sites across California rather than limiting the blend to a single appellation. The 2022 vintage is composed of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Merlot, 3% Syrah, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot — a multi-varietal approach that shifts in proportion from year to year depending on what each vintage delivers. The wine is aged for 15 months in 100% French oak, with 25% new barrels and the remainder in two- to three-year-old cooperage, lending structure without overwhelming the fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with concentrated blackberry and dark currant, followed by layers of cedarwood, leafy herbs, and a subtle earthy truffle note. There is a quiet undercurrent of dark chocolate and new leather that deepens as the wine breathes.

Taste: The entry is lush with ripe black and red fruit, moving into a mid-palate of spiced plum, licorice, and savory herb tones. Medium to full-bodied, the mouthfeel is dense and velvety, with a layered, pure quality that carries the fruit through to its peak without heaviness.

Finish: The finish is long and textured, marked by lingering dark chocolate, stony minerality, and a thread of cedar spice. Tannins are firm but well-integrated, leaving a clean, persistent close.

How to Drink Leviathan

This wine is best served at cellar temperature — around 60–65°F — and benefits from 30 to 60 minutes in a decanter before pouring. It drinks well on its own, and its bold structure also makes it a strong foundation for red wine cocktails. A Kalimotxo works here because the wine's dark fruit intensity holds up against cola's sweetness. A New York Sour uses Leviathan's dense berry character to float beautifully over bourbon and lemon. For a simple warm-weather option, a red wine spritzer with sparkling water and a citrus twist lets the underlying fruit shine in a lighter format.

Best For

• Impressing a Napa Valley enthusiast with a winemaker-driven California blend
• Pairing with a charcoal-grilled ribeye or braised short ribs at a weekend dinner
• Gifting to someone who values critic-rated wines without the triple-digit price tag
• Building a California red collection beyond single-vineyard bottlings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Leviathan taste like? Leviathan is a full-bodied, Cabernet-driven red that leads with blackberry and dark currant, supported by dark chocolate, savory herbs, and cedarwood spice. The texture is dense and velvety, with firm tannins and a long finish.

How does Leviathan compare to Orin Swift Papillon? Both are multi-varietal California red blends built around Cabernet Sauvignon with bold structure and dark fruit concentration. Leviathan tends to show more restraint and earthiness from its French oak program, while Papillon often leans into riper, more extracted fruit and heavier oak influence.

Is Leviathan good for sipping neat? Yes — the wine's layered complexity and velvety texture make it well-suited to drinking on its own, especially after decanting for 30 to 60 minutes to let the aromas fully open.

Where is Leviathan made? Leviathan is a California wine made by Andy Erickson, who sources fruit from vineyards across Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and Lake County. The blend changes each vintage based on which regions and vineyard blocks produce the strongest fruit.

What foods pair well with Leviathan? Grilled ribeye steak pairs naturally with the wine's dark fruit and firm tannins. Braised lamb shanks complement its savory herb notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère echo its earthy, dense profile. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the cocoa tones in the finish. Mushroom risotto bridges nicely with the wine's truffle and mineral undertones.

What sizes does Leviathan come in? Leviathan Red Blend is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Leviathan worth the price? Leviathan positions as a premium California red blend that consistently earns scores in the low-to-mid 90s from major critics, including 92 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate for the 2022 vintage. For a wine made by a former Screaming Eagle winemaker using quality French oak and multi-appellation fruit, it sits in a strong value position relative to single-vineyard Napa Cabernets.

Why Leviathan?

The strongest case for Leviathan is Andy Erickson's deliberate rejection of appellation constraints. By treating all of California as his sourcing ground — pulling Cabernet from Napa, Petite Sirah from Lake County, and other varietals from wherever the vintage is strongest — he builds a blend that no single-region wine can replicate. The 2022 vintage's 92-point score from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and 93-point score from James Suckling for the 2021 confirm that this approach yields consistent critical recognition. At its price tier, few California reds deliver this combination of winemaker pedigree, multi-varietal complexity, and serious oak treatment.