Sale!

Lot 5: 2015 Cabernet Franc, Sonoma Mountain, 6-bottle pack

$345.00 $114.00

 

This gorgeous wine was made by a famed 100+ year old Napa winery whose Cabernet Francs always score 90+ points, most recently 91 from Wine Advocate.

The fruit was grown in ‘Sonoma Mountain’ where the grapes get a wonderful combination of heat and elevation to lengthen the ripening cycle and develop broad, deep flavors.

This was made for a neighboring winery who subsequently decided they had too large a vintage, so we swooped in and liberated the extra they didn’t need.

It sells for $65 per bottle up there, though we did see it in one place for $50, so working our usual magic (mostly begging, buying in bulk, being discreet, rebranding, listing it online) we’re happy to share it for $19!

As usual it’s available in 6-bottle packs, one pack per person.

It’s a mouth-wateringly brilliant example of the best of Cab Franc. Silky smooth, utterly elegant and yet it still throbs with structure and stunning fruits and flavors – black cherry, blackberry, cocoa and roasted spice.

We adore this wine. We also have a second great reason to share it with you, the belief that Cabernet Sauvignon gets rather too much attention as the ‘King of Reds’. That means Cab Francs are often particularly good value, even at the much higher prices normally paid for this wine. A few more details on Cab Franc are below.

Enjoy!!

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Cabernet Franc is actually a parent to Cabernet Sauvignon (the other is Sauvignon Blanc). The crossing occurred sometime during the middle 1600’s around Bordeaux, where Cabernet Franc is still grown, particularly on the exclusive ‘Right Bank’ where with Merlot it holds sway over Cabernet Sauvignon. For example at the Premier Grand Cru Classé ranked Château Cheval Blanc of St. Emilion where Cab Franc is the dominant grape.

Compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, while having some strong similarities Cabernet Franc typically also has some considerable virtues, including being lighter in color despite similar aromatic intensity, less tannic and smoother.

 

“In Loving Memory of Gene & Ivor” on the label pays tribute to Gene McNany and Ivor Page, Mr Hunt & Mr Heist’s fathers, who both passed away too early to taste this but whose fierce love of top quality wine and a good deal live on here.