Winemaker Notes
Pair with Tuna Steak, Quail, & Chicken dishes…to Lamb Chops, Duck Breast or a delicious Bone-In Rib Eye! Very versatile food wine!
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Cabernet Franc is a beautiful wine with the succulence of this vintage on display – supple tannins, a velvety, heady, hedonistic mouthfeel, and a fragrant, floral black raspberry and black cherry-scented nose with forest floor and floral notes. The wine has great fruit, medium to full body, and a silky finish. Drink it over the next decade.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
When I first nosed the 2012 Palazzo Cabernet Franc, I was immediately impressed with the authenticity of the wine's aromas and flavors. This is one of the finest examples of new world Cabernet Franc that I have experienced over the last decade. The wine's upfront black fruits, dried leaves and sweet earth are so inviting. There is even a charming hint of violets too. Smooth and layered on the palate, I can see a pairing with a savory lamb stew. Drinking quite nicely now. (Tasted: August 10, 2016, 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.