Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Another of the profound Cabernet Francs from Scott Palazzo, and to me, one of the two best he has made to date (the other being the 2007) is the 2013 Cabernet Franc. When I tasted it, it had only been in bottle about five weeks, but it was locked and loaded. Dense purple, with notes of forest floor, incense, violets, black cherries and black raspberries, some foresty notes are also present. The wine is full-bodied, opulent, with great acidity, vigor and delineation. This is a sensational example of Cabernet Franc and certainly one of the finest 100% Cabernet Franc cuvées money can buy from California. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.
Rating: 97+
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.