FROM THE WINERY:

This Cabernet Franc comes from two vineyards: Rossi Vineyard and Santa Ynez Vineyard. Both of these vineyards are planted in the eastern end of Santa Barbara County in the Happy Canyon AVA. This area of the valley has a very hot climate with many summer days that reach temperatures over 100 degrees, which produce the perfect growing conditions for these grapes. The rocky soils of the foothills stress the vines into producing smaller clusters with richer flavors.

The grapes are hand picked, lightly crushed, and then fermented for 14 days on the skins. 20% whole clusters are used in the fermentation. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is pressed and then aged for 20 months in French oak barrels.

This Cabernet Franc fills the glass with beautiful deep shades of mahogany. Hints of roasted pepper tease on the nose as more defined notes of blueberry and raspberry fade in. The cooler growing season of 2019 created a lean, balanced wine with good acidity, soft tannins and essences of white pepper and black cherries.