Bailiwick Russian River Valley Cabernet Franc 2012
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Maybe it was genetic, but these two brothers started making wine in a basement 25 years ago, and later in various garages, with time acquiring the skills and confidence in preparation for a commercial venture. Careers in engineering, high technology, and finance consumed the efforts for many years, but you only go around once, so they founded Bailiwick in the fall of 2009. The Vais brothers now source from vineyards in multiple appellations, seeking differentiated expressions of each varietal. They literally travel hundreds of miles each year seeking vineyards and growers aligned with our vision for quality and expressiveness.
The wines these two brothers produce are personal; they are what they would choose for their own table. They revel in wines that reward close inspection, that seem to make time slow down as your senses flood with subtle attributes of aroma and taste. Crafted to harmonize with food, our wines lead to memorable fusions of aroma, flavor, friends, time and place.
Cabernet Franc, a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, is the subtler and more delicate of the Cabernets. Today Cabernet Franc produces outstanding single varietal wines across the wine-producing world. Somm Secret—One of California's best-kept secrets is the Happy Canyon appellation of Santa Barbara. Here Cabernet Franc shines as a single varietal wine or in blends, expressing sumptuous fruit, savory aromas and polished tannins.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.