Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Franc
2021, Napa Valley, California, USA
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Profile & Story
For more than 100 years, Beaulieu Vineyard has set the standard for rich, classic Napa Valley wines. Their legacy honors the marriage between state-of-the-art winemaking technology and gentle, traditional winemaking methods, a combination that enhances the expression of their remarkable vineyard terroir. Varietal Composition: 85% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sourcing: Napa Valley AVA. Barrel Aging: 19 months in French oak (81% new). Analysis: Alcohol 14.9%; Total Acidity 5.7 g/L; pH 3.59. Ageability: 2025-2035. Vineyards: Grapes for this Reserve Cabernet Franc were sourced partially from Napa Valley's Howell Mountain, which produces small, dark, concentrated berries with intense structure, and St. Helena appellations. Premier vineyard blocks situated on well-draining soils, in sun-kissed, warm microclimates were specifically selected to capture the most superior quality in this historic varietal. The remainder of the blend was sourced from the Rutherford estate, known for fruit with rounded tannin structure and "Rutherford dust" characteristics. Winemaking: At the state-of-the-art winery dedicated exclusively to the production of Reserve wines, the latest technology was used to destem and optically sort the berries to retain only the highest quality fruit. Cold-soaking of the must and gentle pump-overs extracted the flavor-rich skins into the juice. Upon completion of primary fermentation, the skins were pressed and the wine was transferred into French oak barrels (81% new) to age for 19 months. Because of the unique and wonderful character of this varietal, the wine is treated as a separate lot and a limited amount is bottled. Vintage 2022: The winter of 2022 was warm and dry, with rain and cooler weather passing through only toward the end of March. The mild spring gave an early start to the growing season, while summer surprised with cool mornings and warmer afternoons. As a result, the harvest yielded small berries with concentrated flavors and remarkable acidity, from which wines of exceptional balance and taste were derived.
Tasting Notes
A deep, inky purple, Beaulieu Vineyard's 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc is a wine for thoughtful musing, redolent of warm caramel, Tahitian vanilla, marjoram, and sweet pipe tobacco aromas. Its palate is lively with suave, forthright acidity and silky tannins, conveying varietal flavors of black cherry, plum, and anise. Espresso coffee bean notes can be ascribed to the well-integrated oak. The finely layered, long finish is a summation of its rich red fruit story with scattered touches of dried herbs.
Pairing Recommendation
Enjoy this 2022 Cabernet Franc alone or with grilled artichokes, prosciutto, fig and goat cheese crostini, and other Spanish tapas.