Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The inky opaque purple-colored 2010 Cabernet Franc Leopoldina Vineyard offers an attractive blueberry-scented nose, stunning medium to full-bodied flavors that coat the palate, but are not heavy, pure blue and black fruits, glorious texture and precision, and an amazingly long finish. One of the finest California Cabernet Francs I have tasted, this sleeper of the vintage should drink well for 10-15+ years.
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Wine Spectator
A rich, full-blown, firmly tannic style, this puts the emphasis on vivid dark berry and boysenberry notes. Engaging and complex on the finish, where the flavors linger. Best from 2015 through 2025. 334 cases made.
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.