Winemaker Notes
Ask Winemaker Sara Fowler her favorite red, and she'll tell you it's Cabernet Franc. This 2023 vintage opens with bright, lifted aromas of red and black currants, black cherries, cedar, earth, and spice. The full-bodied palate reveals finely tuned tannins and vibrant acidity that bring balance and freshness. Layers of juicy craisin, brambleberry, and baking spice unfold, while notes of coffee and graphite carry through a long, textured finish. Complex yet playful, this wine shows why Sara can't resist coming back to Cab Franc again and again.
Blend: 95% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Bright, lifted aromas of red and black currants, black cherries, cedar, earth and spices. The full-bodied palate has finely tuned tannins and bright acidity that bring balance and freshness. Nicely constructed. Drink or hold.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Based on 95% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 18 months in 45% new French and American oak, the 2023 Cabernet Franc sports a ruby/plum hue as well as spicy red, blue, and black fruits intermixed with smoky tobacco, leather, and dried herbs. It's medium to full-bodied, has a pure, focused, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish.
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.