Handwritten Releases 100% Cabernet Franc from Calistoga
At Handwritten Wines we’ve long been renowned for premium small production hillside Cabernet Sauvignons. Among the Handwritten wine library, winemaker Rob Lloyd has handcrafted wines from the very best mountain AVAs in Napa Valley producing almost exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon. Today we are rolling out the red carpet for the premiere release of our first ever 100% Cabernet Franc. Here’s what you need to know about this high end red wine.
True to French-inspired winemaking, Handwritten Wines is proud to introduce a rare, small-production bottling of Cabernet Franc to its luxury stable of Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Cabernet Franc is in fact the parent to both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The ancient grape variety has long complemented Cabernet Sauvignon in the blending of artisanal Bordeaux-style wines. Despite its prominence in Bordeaux wines, Cabernet Franc maintains a spiritual home in the cool Loire Valley.
Cabernet Franc is typically characterized by the presence of ‘pyrazines’. These natural compounds often lend pronounced herbal, earthy and vegetal aromas to the wine. Sourcing our Handwritten Wines Cabernet Franc from the northern most AVA in Napa Valley, we have been able to achieve a truly unique identity to this wine. Established in 2010, Calistoga AVA has garnered a reputation for producing complex and high end red wines. The warm climate enjoys cool nights with nocturnal breezes sweeping northerly from the Russian River over the Mayacamas mountain ranges. These defining characters deliver the elegance that you expect from a boutique winery.
Winemaker Rob Lloyd celebrates its release sharing that, “The 2018 Calistoga Cabernet Franc is years in the making! We first worked with this vineyard up at the top of the Napa Valley, but after only one harvest, it had to be replanted due to phylloxera. I love the top of the valley. It’s warm days, and cool nights are so perfect for ripening cab franc. This tiny one-acre site is able to fully ripen enjoying enough sun to show off the bright fruit characteristics that typically come with long hang time. The wine is elegant, almost feminine in its gracefulness. Bright floral, spice and dark fruit notes shine in the glass, with a long finish that is leaves me wanting more. Sorry, I have to stop typing and take another sip! Cheers!”
This Cabernet Franc boasts a brilliant ruby color at the core that persists to vibrant red toward the rim. Bushels of fresh raspberries and mulberries are beautifully contrasted by tea tree leaves and chocolate mint. On the palate, this elegant and ripe version of the Cabernet Franc grape variety is equal parts earthy and fruit forward goodness. Classic notes of fresh herbs and gravel are balanced by ample, jammy berries and stewed plums. While this red exudes a certain powerful presence, the tannins soften generously on the back end and the wine glides softly to a lengthy finish. The bright acidity and elevated tannic structure of this wine lend to a vast array of pairing options from braised lamb and cassoulet to barbequed ribs or truffle mushroom pizza.
For personalized service in adding our 2018 Calistoga Cabernet Franc to your upcoming Anthology or Trilogy member shipment, or in ordering any of our other handcrafted wines, please contact us at (707) 944-8524 or email wine@handwrittenwines.com.