Winemaker Notes
Dark red brick in color. Beautiful subtle and ripe fruit notes fill the glass including cassis and toasted sandalwood with fine licorice and dark chocolate notes. The mouth-feel is rich and vibrant with great concentration and wonderful layers of ripe tannins that create a strong backbone for the lush fruit. The finish is long with classic minerality and finesse. This Cabernet Franc will age beautifully and is a perfect food companion.
This is best served a few degrees below room temperature, this wine pairs beautifully with lamb, pheasant, and chicken, veal or mushroom dishes. Serve it with grilled salmon for a delicious—if unusual—complement.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Crushed thyme, violet, singed rosemary and black pepper make for a pretty, earthy entry to this red. The palate is velvety smooth in feel, showing a juicy red cherry flavor that’s propped up by well-mannered tannins. A streak of graphite chimes in on the finish, giving a mouthwatering tang to the close
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Cabernet Franc Caya also has 10% Merlot, all aged for 21 months in 30% new (almost all French) barriques. It comes in at 13.8% alcohol. Intense and powerful, this wine's structure initially obscures the fruit. This comes around nicely in the glass after an hour or so, though, seeming lusher and rather expressive. Beautifully textured, this caresses the palate too. What you are going to need here is patience, though. Unlike some in this report, the tannins are not so hard as to call into question whether this will succeed—it sure seems that it will—but it still needs a year or two to come into better balance, at least. It should age very well thereafter. Rating: 90+
For over 30 years, Wölffer Estate Vineyard has been known as one of the finest producers on the East Coast and a center for innovation and hospitality. They are committed to producing premium, distinctive wines, ciders and spirits through a dedication to quality, penchant for style and celebration of place.
Wölffer Estate was founded in 1988 by Christian Wölffer, a man with great creative vision and a huge passion for life. The estate today is owned and operated by his children, Marc and Joey Wölffer and Winemaker/Partner Roman Roth. The estate spans approximately 170 acres including the acclaimed 55 acre sustainably farmed vineyard located in Sagaponack, NY. They also own 28 acres on the North Fork of Long Island, 200 acres in Mendoza, Argentina and 2.5 acres in Mallorca, Spain. Finally, they partner with carefully selected growers on 338 acres on the North Fork of Long Island as well as 1,750 acres in Côtes de Provence, France.
The unique combination of Bridgehampton loam soil and breezes from the Atlantic Ocean, located 2.6 miles from the estate, provide maritime conditions perfect for achieving the balance of ripeness and acidity that has come to define Wölffer’s signature style: food friendly, elegant and built for longevity. Their dry ciders and gin have extended Wölffer quality into new categories, exemplifying their drive for innovation and excellence.
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.
A far-reaching peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the city of New York, the Long Island appellation includes The Hamptons and North Fork AVAs. With a maritime climate and conditions not unlike that in Bordeaux, the region excels in the production of Bordeaux varieties, namely Merlot and Cabernet Franc.