Lot 21 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 750ml
92-POINTS James Suckling: Aromas of red and black cherries, cassis, dried herbs, graphite and spices. The palate is full-bodied with a smooth, finely textured mouthfeel, firm yet refined tannins and balanced acidity, with an herbal and savory finish. Drink or hold.
Today's offer is typically bottled under a proprietary name, scores in the mid-90's with Dunnuck and Parker and is priced well-over $150+/bottle.
Today it is yours for just $25/BOTTLE!
The blend, 100% sourced from "the vineyard that shall not be named up on Atlas Peak", came to us at 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Merlot so I decided to bottle this as a Cabernet Franc (minimum requirement for varietal bottling). We didn't touch the blend and bottled it up as-is at the end of June.
Epic Ethereal
The combination of Cabernet Franc and Merlot grown at elevation and raised up in 70% new French oak makes for an epically ethereal wine with incredible structure and complexity. Powerful-yet-elegant, this is a beautifully integrated, lithe and sexy wine.
Deep ruby/purple in the glass with a dense, earthy bouquet of black plums and dark chocolate interlaced with garrigue that is soon complexed with ripe cherry and blackberry fruit haloed with notes of cinnamon spice and violet swirling with dark, fresh turned earth. Savory, high-toned, and lovely as it unwinds in the glass. Robust and chewy on entry with juicy, vibrant blackcurrant, blueberry, and cocoa notes beautifully balanced over a massive tannin framework. Rich and powerful yet elegant, this wine finishes long and persistent with tremendous complexity layered over a dynamite structure. FANTASTIC.
100% single vineyard
75% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot
~70% new French oak
15% alc.
425 cases produced.
Bottled June 27th, 2025
Food Pairings:
- Grilled Ribeye Steak
- Duck Confit Cassoulet
- Lamb Shank Tagine
- Mushroom Risotto Delight
- Venison with Blueberry
- Eggplant Parmesan Bake
- Napa Stuffed Mushrooms
- California Cheese Board
- Truffle Potato Croquettes
- Fig and Prosciutto
- Tomato Basil Bruschetta
- Spicy Ahi Tartare
Tastry Category Score: 198
The Tastry Category Score (“TCS”) represents the “quality-to-price-ratio” or perceived quality of a wine relative to its competitive category.
A score of 100 is average, and the further above 100 the TCS is, the more the wine is over-performing the category. The further below, the more it is under-preforming the category.
Tastry Flavor Profile:
Pairs well with
Lot 21 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 750ml