History
The first time I worked with locally grown Cabernet Franc
grapes in the late 80’s, I became a fan of this classic Bordeaux varietal. Most
years this grape is the driving force behind our Blues Cuvée and Evidence
blends. But my fondness for this noble grape has inspired me to create this standalone
bottling of 100% Cabernet Franc.
The Harvest
The mild temperatures during the 2018 growing season resulted
in relatively late harvest dates for the Bordeaux grape varietals. The Cabernet
Franc grapes were harvested from Camp 4 Vineyard on October 30th and
from Valley View Vineyard on November 2nd. The long maturity period allowed the grapes
to reach riper sugar contents averaging 26.0 Brix.
Winemaking
The grapes were destemmed and crushed into small, open top
fermenters. After four days of cold soaking, the musts were inoculated with
yeast. The fermentation lasted for 14 days after which the wine was pressed
off, settled for several days and then racked to French oak barrels for aging,
of which 33% were new. After aging for 22 months the wines were blended,
lightly filtered and bottled in August 2020.
The
Wine
The wine has a dark magenta color. The classic Cabernet Franc
aromas are fragrant with notes of olives, herbs and dried fruits. On the palate
the wine has a rich texture of silky tannins and concentrated fruit. The
flavors mirror the aromas with an accent on dried cherries and a hint of oak
vanillin. The wine is perfectly balanced with acidity, contributing to a long
and persistent finish. This is a rich and intense example of Cabernet Franc.
Food
Pairings
Try pairing this wine with a variety of foods including herb
crusted lamb, duck with cherry glaze and pork loin.
Rick Longoria, Winemaker
November 1, 2020
Composition: 100% Cabernet Franc
Vineyard sources: Camp 4 (65%)
Valley View (35%)
Production: 40 cases
Alcohol by volume: 15.5%
pH: 3.73
Titratable acidity: 0.61g/100ml
Cellaring potential: Six to nine years
