2020 Cabernet Franc

Enticing flavors of wild strawberry, plum, blackberry, graphite, sandalwood and violets.  The texture is lush and mouthcoating with fine-grained tannins that frame the showy finish.  Just a lovely, nuanced, seamless wine.  This offering is the closest we have ever come to bottling 100% cabernet franc, with just 3% cabernet sauvignon and 1% petit verdot added, both from our County Line vineyard block that snakes along the Sonoma County side of the Napa-Sonoma county line on our property.

There was no public or mailing list release of this wine due to its extremely limited production.  While the majority of our red grapes had been harvested prior to September 28, 2020, when the Glass Fire swept over us, only a tiny amount of cabernet franc had been picked and smoke rendered the fruit still on the vine unusable.

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Appellation: Sonoma County
Vintage: 2020
Harvest: September 2020
Fermentation: Stainless Steel
Cooperage: French Oak
Blend: 96% Cabernet Franc
3% Cabernet Sauvignon
1% Petit Verdot
Alcohol: 14.4%
Bottling: April 2022
Production: 360 cases
Release Date: July 2022
Release Price: $78.00

Reviews

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  • Decanter: American Cabernet Franc: Panel tasting results - Rating: 95

    More than 600m above the valley floor of Napa, Pride is on the crest of the Mayacamas mountains with volcanic loam soils rich in clay. The 2020 blend boasts more Cabernet Franc than previous vintages, with just 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot. Unfortunately, production in 2020 was extremely limited, with only 25% of the crop picked before wildfires spread through the region at the end of September. Amanda Barnes: Intense ripe berries on the nose echo on the palate. Juicy, bright fruit and a slightly chalky texture. More leafiness would be good, but a luxurious wine. Vincenzo Arnese: Great intensity and ripeness on the nose. Nice development with good structure and body.

    Ben Gubbins: Oak spice. A complex nose of blueberry, blackcurrant, cherry, tobacco, green pepper. Good structure with ripe tannins. Good concentration.

     

    Tasted by: Amanda BarnesVincenzo ArneseBen Gubbins

    (at Decanter Tasting Suite, London, 05 Jun 2023)

     

  • Vinous: From: Napa Valley: The Frantic 2020s & Stunning 2021s (Feb 2023) - Rating: 93

    The 2020 Cabernet Franc is terrific. Bright and full of energy, the 2020 is seriously delicious. Bright red fruit, plum, blood orange, spice, mint and espresso fill out the layers. The purity of the fruit is striking. Pretty floral accents lift the finish. Sadly, production is down a whopping 75%. 

  • Wine Enthusiast: October 1, 2023 - Rating: 93

    Warm aromas of cedar, sage and grilled plums lead to a broad, rich palate full of black plums, cooked cherries and oak spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. The wine is rich, layered, complex and delicious. — Jim Gordon