Winemaker Notes
The 2015 North Coast Cabernet Franc shows a hint of blue violet on the rim of its color. The aromatics are typical of Cabernet Franc: berry fruit, floral and lightly herbaceous top notes. The flavors follow suit with more of a strawberry jam fruit impression that’s countered with a hint of ‘sous- bois’ (forest floor earthiness). All of this is wrapped in gentle, balancing tannins, which help to keep the flavors lengthy and satisfying. Though crafted for immediate enjoyment, it has the capacity to age gracefully.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Fresh violets, herbs, elderberries, licorice and spices. The palate is grainy and somewhat edgy with firm tannins, fine acidity and a pretty finish.
-
Wine Enthusiast
This earthy, savory wine from one of the few Cab Franc specialists in California shows feral aromas and complex, herbaceous, meaty flavors that challenge the notion of the varietal. It is medium bodied, firmly tannic and offers an interesting path worth taking.
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.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.