2010 Cabernet Franc
“The aroma brings to mind black forest cake with cherries, chocolate, cream, and a garnish of mint. These notes carry over onto the palate and meld with flavors of fresh blueberry, sweet oak and a touch of wild sage. The texture is creamy, yet structured enough to pair well at the dinner table.” – Mike McGrath, Winemaker
MORE ABOUT THIS WINE
- Price: $30
- Blend: 100% Cabernet Franc A long, cool spring delayed Napa Valley’s grape growing cycle by three weeks in 2010. Bud break, bloom, set and berry softening were all impacted. Shoot and crop thinning, deficit irrigation, and basal leaf removal to expose fruit directly to the sun’s rays were all implemented to accelerate maturity. Napa Valley’s grape growing season often includes an expected heat wave that arrives unpredictably. In 2010 it arrived on Aug 17, which hastened maturation. Cabernet Franc was harvested into the last week of October due to the late start of the growing season. Half of the fruit for this wine is from Stagecoach Vineyard on Atlas Peak. At an elevation of 1420 feet, this vineyard experiences early bud-break yet matures slowly. Floral, red fruit and spice characters were prevalent in 2010 and the fruit from this vineyard displayed its usual firm structure. Carpenter Vineyard, located just north of St. Helena, contributes the balance of the fruit for this wine. A warmer site with richer soil, it typically matures a couple of weeks earlier than the mountain fruit. The vineyard’s fertile, dense soil is responsible for the chocolate, cherry and mint characters. It also softens and rounds out the texture of the final blend.
- ALC: 13.5% TA: 0.57g pH: 3.64
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