Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Combines power with finesse, giving Cabernet Franc a measure of torque and character rarely achieved in California, offering tiers of savory herb, dark berry, dusty loamy earth and sensual oak, taking a little edge off the chewy tannins. Best to aerate unless cellaring. Best from 2020 through 2030.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This is a sexy, mid-weight wine with loads of blueberry and raspberry fruit, some floweriness, medium body and beautiful purity, texture and length. It is not a blockbuster by any means, but it is wonderfully well-done and delicious. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
As distinctive as this grape variety comes, the 2014 Lang & Reed Two-Fourteen Cabernet Franc exhibits a wild streak of dried leaves, pungent earth, and savory herbs. This spot-on example is food-pairing friendly. Try it with a spicy lamb stew. (Tasted: October 30, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.