Tasting Notes

Displaying classic varietal character, our Cabernet Franc offers ripe fruit tinged by smoke, dry earth and subtle oak accents. Aromas leap from the glass with dark plum, cassis and tobacco. Across the palate, cedar, hay and toast interplay over a sweet fruit backdrop. Tannins are present but not overpowering, with a well-tamed grip that holds the finish. Savory, salty foods will bring forward the fruit in this wine; pair it with roasted meats and stews.

Vineyard Notes

A majority of our Cabernet Franc comes from vineyards in the northern end of Napa Valley. A mix of mountain and valley fruit allows us to blend the attributes of several vineyards for a well-balanced wine. The mountain fruit, most of which comes from our Diamond Mountain Ranch Vineyard, has bold flavors and tight tannin structure. We flesh this out with fruit from the valley floor, mainly from our Tamagni Vineyard located down near the Napa River, which gives us plush, ripe berry fruit characters. Together, they form a seamless, well balanced whole.

Winemaking Notes

Historically a Bordeaux blending varietal, Cabernet Franc has a distinct personality of its own. We wanted to craft a wine that showcased its characteristics. We began by hand-harvesting the fruit in the cool hours of the day. After the grapes were destemmed and crushed, we used a process called saignée, which bleeds off a portion of the juice prior to fermentation, allowing for an increased ratio of skins to juice and ultimately a greater intensity of flavors. After fermentation, we aged the wine for 18 months in primarily French oak barrels, which we feel are an ideal partner for Cabernet Franc. We blended small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to flesh out the wine and add depth.