History
From 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. In 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 varietal bottling of Cabernet Franc.
The Harvest
The mild temperatures during the 2019 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 14th and
from Valley View Vineyard on October 25th.
The long maturity period allowed the grapes to reach slightly riper
sugar contents, averaging 25.0 Brix.
Winemaking
The grapes were destemmed and crushed into small, open-top
fermenters. After two 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 19% were new. After aging for 22 months the wines were blended,
lightly filtered and bottled in August 2021.
The
Wine
The wine has a medium dark ruby color. The classic Cabernet
Franc aromas are fragrant with notes of black pepper, roasted bell peppers,
with a hint of dried black cherries. On the palate the wine has a rich
mid-palate of concentrated fruit and silky tannins. The flavors are of black
cherries, black pepper and a hint of coffee toffee. The wine is perfectly
balanced with acidity, contributing to a long and persistent finish. This is a
rich and well-balanced example of Cabernet Franc.
Food
Pairings
Try pairing this wine with a variety of foods including
grilled steaks, tomato based Mediterranean dishes, and pork loin. I recommend decanting the wine 30-45 minutes
prior to serving.
