2021 Spring Mountain District Cabernet Franc

Tasting Notes
 Strawberry jam, red cherry, and mulberry fruit aromatics with red licorice, allspice, bay laurel and floral spice.  Bright and ripe forward fruit on the palate with the signature broad and soft mid-palate dusted in cocoa.  Very smooth and juicy with candied red fruits on the finish. 

Vineyard: Properties: Bales Creek Vineyard

Appellation: Spring Mountain District
Clonal Selections:  214 cabernet franc
Yield: 2 tons per acre

Growing Season

The 2021 vintage will be remembered for low yields with intensely-flavored, small sized berries and a smooth and uneventful harvest season. The season started off with very little rain, leading to the 2nd year of drought conditions in Napa Valley, Harvest began early with white wine grapes picked on July 30th and red wine grapes beginning on August 31. While concerning in the long term, the drought of 2021 resulted in a more natural load on the vines, requiring less pruning and dropping of fruit. The resulting grapes are packed full of flavor. Winemakers across the valley are excited about the prospects of the 2021s and it is likely the smaller yields per vine and smaller berry size will result in another amazing vintage from Napa Valley.

Winemaking

Hand-harvested, picked at night, 26.2 brix

Gently de-stemmed and whole berries transferred to stainless steel
Cold soaked for 48 hours
Inoculated with D21 yeast and fermented for 18 days on the skins
Free run juice drained from tank, settled for 24 hours then racked to barrel
Aged for 22 months in French oak barrels, 50 % new
Coopers: Nadalié, Vicard
Bottled August 2023
Composition- 100% Cabernet Franc