7 Stellar Cabernet Francs to Drink Now
Cabernet Franc is unfortunately overshadowed by its precocious offspring. It is one of the genetic parents of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Malbec, and Merlot and many researchers think it was grown in ancient Burdigalia (modern day Bordeaux) because it was mentioned by Pliny the Elder. In the United States it is generally used as a blending grape in Bordeaux-style blends. There are about 3,400 acres of Cab Franc grown in California with vines in Napa Valley, Sonoma, Paso Robles, and Santa Barbara. Winemakers are also growing it in Washington State, Oregon, New York, Virginia, and to a lesser extent in Michigan and Indiana. High-end Cabernet Franc is not often found as a single varietal wine but when it’s done right, it’s really amazing. However, the challenge is finding those elusive amazing wines. But don’t worry, we’re big fans of Cab Franc and we’ve done the leg work for you. Here are the seven best Cabernet Franc bottles you should buy now.
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Woodward Canyon 2021 Estate Cabernet Franc Walla Walla Washington
Woodward Canyon was planted in 1977, and it is located as far west as you can get in the Walla Walla AVA. It consists of 35 acres under vine and a handful more surrounding the vineyards that are home to multiple varieties of pine and sage brush. The soils are predominantly loam and the vineyard sits between 750 to 850 feet in altitude. For this 100 percent Cab Franc wine, the grapes are hand harvested and cold soaked for two days before inoculation with native yeast. Fermentation occurs in large stainless-steel barrels and the wine is transferred to oak barrels (roughly one quarter new) and aged for 18 months. It is inky garnet colored with aromas of Gala apple, currant, and geranium leaf that open on the palate to flavors of red raspberry jam, red plum, and sun-dried tomato. Plush tannins linger into a satisfying finish. Only 435 cases were produced.
Acumen 2021 Peak Cabernet Franc Atlas Peak Napa Valley California
Grapes growing in Acumen’s Atlas Peak vineyards generally experience temperatures that are five to 10 degrees cooler than the valley floor, which imparts a pronounced sense of freshness and balanced acidity. While the growing season was marked by drought conditions that led to smaller grapes and lower yields, the winemaking team felt that the flavors were better concentrated and would produce an excellent wine. We couldn’t agree more; the 2021 Cab Franc has enticing aromas of crushed violet petal, red raspberry, tomato leaf, and touches of tobacco leaf and cedar. Silky smooth tannins lead the way to flavors of red currant, cherry, clove, and raspberry with bracing minerality in the finish.
Miller Family Wines 2021 J. Wilkes Cabernet Franc Highlands District Paso Robles California
The Miller family has been making wine since 1871 in California’s Central Coast. Currently in their fifth generation the family can trace its history back to William Richard Broome who acquired the Rancho Guadalasca in a land grant. A portion of the land is now state property and known as Point Mugu State Park. The family makes wines from many varieties, but their Cab Franc caught our attention on a tasting trip to the region. It has aromas of red fruits, cinnamon, saddle leather, and campfire smoke with pleasantly grippy tannins and flavors of cherry, vanilla, and brown baking spices.
Caladan 2019 Cabernet Franc Napa Valley California
Winemaker Chris Carpenter is well known for his excellent Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines, but he is not as well known for his wines made from less popular varieties. He and his team at Caladan intend to change that with this stunning Cabernet Franc predominant wine. Grapes are grown in the Yverdon Vineyard in Spring Mountain District, the Wallis Vineyard in Diamond Mountain District, the W.S. Keyes Vineyard on Howell Mountain, and the Mt. Brave Vineyard on Mount Veeder. After harvest, sorting, and fermentation the wine is transferred to 75 percent new French oak barrels for 22 months, and the final blend includes just about one-fifth Merlot. It has aromas of red cherry, red raspberry, freshly ground coffee, and cherry liquor. Silky tannins and well-structured minerality pave the way for flavors of dried cherry, espresso bean, and red currant. Only 588 cases made.
Buy Now: $825 for a 3-Bottle Set
GRO 2019 Frediani Vineyard Cabernet Franc Calistoga Napa Valley California
Winemaker Lars Bjorkman, his winemaking team, and his growers were worried when the 2019 growing season started with very little winter rain, but it turned out to be an excellent summer with steady, mild weather and only a few days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. At harvest time in early October there was an abundance of well matured, ripe Cabernet Franc grapes to crush to make this delicious wine. After fermentation it was aged in 65 percent new French oak for just about two years and bottled in late June 2021. Aromas of crushed violet petals, blue fruits, and cassis lead the way to flavors of blueberry, dark chocolate, and blackberry preserves, with cashmere tannins that linger into a satisfying finish.
Lang & Reed 2019 Two Fourteen Cabernet Franc Napa Valley California
Lang & Reed began working with Cabernet Franc in the early 1990s and during that time they were able to get their hands on some amazing Loire Valley clones to plant. Named for clone 214, this enticing wine is made from 100 percent Cabernet Franc grapes grown in the Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard. The winemaking team feels that the 2019 growing season was perfect for bringing out some of Cab Franc’s best qualities. It has brilliant ruby color with aromas of black raspberry, red raspberry, violet candy, and dried sage with silky tannins on the palate and flavors of black currant, vanilla, dried cherry, and a touch of dried herbes de Provence in the finish. Drink now through 2029.
Barnett Vineyards 2021 Cabernet Franc Spring Mountain District Napa Valley
Winemaker David Tate makes this tasty Cab Franc with grapes harvested from the Manzanita, Arena, and Madrone blocks on Spring Mountain. He cold soaked the grapes for two days and allowed them to macerate on the skins for 20 days which resulted in a deep purple color. A cuvée of 95 percent Cabernet Franc and 5 percent Merlot, the wines were aged for 22 months in French oak barrels before blending. It has aromas of espresso bean, cassis, and freshly ground black pepper. Flavors of black raspberry, dark chocolate, red plum, and a closing touch of lifted mint are wrapped in a sheath of opulent tannins. Drink now through 2032.
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