Winemaker Notes
Incredibly fresh and inviting with aromas of redcurrant, cranberries and mountain herbs. The palate is pure and elegant, with notes of raspberries and hints of earth and spice.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A juicy and fruity red with plums, berries and hints of oak and sandalwood. Medium body. Light fruit in the mid-palate and a firm, silky finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Cabernet Franc blends fruit from the two Ravines estate vineyards—76% Limestone Springs and 24% 16 Falls. Aged in large casks of 2.000 liters, it's then held back to get a little bottle age prior to release. Charming tea-like, leafy notes accent black cherries on the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is framed by ripe, softly dusty tannins. This is a terrific effort for the price.
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.
As the most historic wine-producing region in New York state, winemaking in the Finger Lakes area dates back to the 1820s and today as a region, accounts for 90% of the state’s total wine production.
Its narrow and deep lakes created by the movement of Ice Age glaciers create an environment similar to the classic Riesling-loving regions of Europe, namely Germany and Austria. The Finger Lakes retain summer heat that incidentally warms up cold winter air, making it fall down from the lakes’ steep slopes. When spring comes, the lakes, already cooled by cold winter weather, stave off vine budding until the danger of frost has subsided. The main lakes of the zone, that is those big enough to moderate the climate in this way, are the focal points of prime vineyard areas. They include Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga.
While Riesling has fueled most of the region’s success, today Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc enjoy some attention.