2023 Hawk and Horse Cabernet Franc Red Hills Lake County

2023 Hawk and Horse Cabernet Franc Red Hills Lake County

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet FrancKevin VogtNapaUSA

Hawk & Horse

Cabernet Franc 2023
Red Hills Estate

2023 Hawk and Horse Cabernet Franc Red Hills Lake County

Dick Peterson helped shape Napa Valley history, which is part of what makes Hawk & Horse so compelling. Instead of chasing modern trends, the estate remains committed to something increasingly rare: site-driven wines built around farming, measured winemaking, and longevity. Sourced entirely from organically and biodynamically farmed volcanic vineyards in the Red Hills AVA, the 2023 Hawk & Horse Cabernet Franc delivers remarkable depth while preserving the freshness, precision, and aromatic lift that make great Cabernet Franc so captivating.

What stands out most is how unapologetically authentic the wine feels. Nothing here seems engineered toward trends or critic formulas. The structure feels natural. The freshness feels earned. Volcanic minerality, crushed herbs, dark fruit, and floral notes are allowed to speak clearly rather than being polished into sameness. In a market crowded with interchangeable luxury reds, this wine still feels deeply connected to a vineyard, a farming philosophy, and the people behind it.

Very few wines at this price point put together a resume like this. Estate grown. Biodynamically farmed. Volcanic soils. Dick Peterson and Scott Harvey are behind the winemaking. A 96-point score from Tasting Panel. Yet none of those details would matter if the wine itself did not deliver emotionally, and this absolutely does. The 2023 Hawk & Horse Cabernet Franc carries the kind of energy and personality that makes you stop after the first sip and immediately go back for another.

Hawk & Horse
Cabernet Franc 2023
Red Hills Estate
Retails: $65

Your Price: $49.99

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“Cab Franc grown on rocky soils at an elevation of 2,200 feet has quite the impact. Focused, with melting dark chocolate cherries, roasted coffee, blackberries, layered with candied violets. The palate is long, with exquisitely balanced tannins and a fine mineral tonality on the clean finish.”

96 Points

2022 Corazon Del Sol Cabernet Franc Revanna Vineyard Argentina

2022 Corazon Del Sol Cabernet Franc Revanna Vineyard Uco Valley Argentina

with No Comment $30-$40ArgentinaCabernet FrancKevin Vogt

Corazón del Sol

Cabernet Franc
Revana Vineyard 2022
Uco Valley, Argentina

2022 Corazon Del Sol Cabernet Franc Revanna Vineyard Argentina

High in Argentina’s Uco Valley, Corazón del Sol stands as the South American heartbeat of Revana Family Vineyards. Founded by Dr. Madaiah Revana, whose pursuit of terroir-driven excellence spans Napa, Oregon, and now Mendoza, this estate exists for one purpose: to show what Cabernet Franc can achieve when grown at extreme altitude, farmed organically, and guided by a precise hand in the cellar.

The 2022 ‘Revana Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc hails from a wind-swept block in Los Chacayes, capturing the rare balance of purity and power that defines this revered subregion. At 3,800 feet above sea level, the vines anchor into stony, alluvial soils laced with quartz and volcanic fragments, their deep roots and lean environment translating into fruit of remarkable intensity, lift, and mineral clarity.

Under the careful direction of winemaker Cristian Moor, the wine matured for 15 months in French oak, with only a subtle touch of new wood to refine texture without obscuring character. The result is a Cabernet Franc that speaks with quiet confidence and precision: an Argentine expression of altitude and authenticity, shaped by Revana’s global vision for excellence.

Corazón del Sol
Cabernet Franc
Revana Vineyard 2022
Uco Valley, Argentina
Retails at: $35

Your Price: $32

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“The 2022 Cabernet Franc fermented in stainless steel and matured in French barrique for 14 months. It leads with a distinctly fresh, alpine nose of fresh herbs and balsamic aromas surrounding a stony core. The palate is elegantly ripe and refined, concluding with a savory, drying finish that balances succulent fruits and savory undertones. This is a lovely example of Uco Valley Cabernet Franc to enjoy over the next handful of years.”

91 Points

2023 Schema Cabernet Franc Alexander Valley

2023 Schema Cabernet Franc Alexander Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Alexander ValleyCabernet FrancKevin VogtSonomaUSA

Schema

Cabernet Franc
Alexander Valley 2023

2023 Schema Cabernet Franc Alexander Valley

Schema Cabernet Franc 2023 debuts Madelyn Hille’s distinct winemaking perspective, honed through years of dedication at renowned houses such as Pax, Merry Edwards, and Arnot Roberts. With a careful, reflective approach, she’s shaped a wine that reflects her expertise and innate connection to Cabernet Franc. The result is a vivid, unadulterated expression—polished yet seemingly effortless in its clarity and precision.

Sourced from the biodynamically farmed Cisne Vineyard in Alexander Valley, this wine radiates vibrant finesse. Its mineral-threaded fruit, paired with bright acidity, ignites a lively, energetic palate. At a modest 12% alcohol, it strikes an uncommon harmony—airy and agile yet rich with intricate layers—delivering instant delight while hinting at a graceful evolution over time.

Picked by hand and fermented with native yeasts, this Cabernet Franc matured for 14 months in neutral oak, safeguarding the vineyard’s essence and allowing the grape’s delicate traits to emerge. Departing from the lush, fruit-forward profiles common in many New World renditions, it echoes the lifted, fragrant restraint of the Loire Valley. This wine captures a sense of place, poise, and unembellished purity, weaving together thoughtful farming and masterful winemaking.

Schema
Cabernet Franc
Alexander Valley 2023
Retails at: $42

Your Price: $38

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“The Schema 2023 Cabernet Franc from the Cisne Vineyard in Alexander Valley opens with bright notes of lilac, lavender, raspberry, orange zest, chai tea, earth, and a wet stone minerality. On the palate, the wine has a silky texture with flavors of red cherry, marionberry, pomegranate, white pepper, and aniseed. The wine’s low alcohol level is in a delicate balance with the light to medium body and concentration of flavors, ending in an elegant finish.”

95 Points

2021 Haute Montagne Cabernet Franc Napa Valley

2021 Haute Montagne Cabernet Franc Napa Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet FrancKevin VogtNapaPritchard HillUSA

Haute Montagne

Cabernet Franc
Napa Valley 2021

2021 Haute Montagne Cabernet Franc Napa Valley

The Haute Montagne Cabernet Franc was the brightest shining light at our recent tasting. Its seamless blend of dark fruit, intricate complexity, and striking elegance immediately captivated everyone present. Winemaker Douglas Danielak has skillfully captured the unique terroir of Pritchard Hill. The high-altitude terrain and cool microclimate produce wines of remarkable depth and character. Minimal intervention allows the vines to flourish in a natural balance, resulting in exceptional purity.

Danielak’s expertise is the product of extensive experience. With a degree in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis and training at the Lycée Agricole et Viticole de Beaune in Burgundy, he has dedicated decades to perfecting his craft. His work at Knights Bridge has earned significant critical acclaim, and Wine Spectator recognized him as a “Winemaker to Watch” for his visionary approach. Each bottle he crafts showcases a rare harmony of technical skill and artistic inspiration.

Crafted using traditional French oak and the time-honored Bordeaux method, this wine elegantly combines the classic refinement of old-world winemaking with the opulent character of California fruit. The resulting Cabernet Franc possesses power and grace—a compelling and sophisticated expression of this distinguished varietal.

Haute Montagne
Cabernet Franc
Napa Valley 2021
Retails at:$90

Your Price: $75

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“This Pritchard Hill Cabernet Franc possesses a captivating allure. The nose unfolds with briary red and black berries, their vibrant fruitiness entwined with a mineral core of crushed granite and a hint of iron. Licorice adds a touch of intrigue, while cocoa powder and dried sage contribute to the complex aromas. A subtle lavender perfume lingers, adding a unique floral note. On the palate, the wine delivers a powerful yet refined expression of mountain fruit. Intensely penetrating flavors of concentrated boysenberry and black currant are complemented by the brisk acidity of Darjeeling black tea. Dusty tannins provide a firm yet elegant structure, while a touch of espresso bean adds complexity. The wine is incredibly focused and balanced, with a brilliantly orchestrated interplay of fruit, acidity, and tannin. The finish is remarkably long and mouth-watering, leaving a lingering impression of dark fruit and savory spice. This Cabernet Franc is a truly exceptional wine that beautifully showcases the unique terroir of Pritchard Hill.”

97 Points

2019 Hendry Cabernet Franc Blocks 9D & 26 Napa Valley

2019 Hendry Cabernet Franc Blocks 9D & 26 Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet FrancKevin VogtNapaUSA

HENDRY

CABERNET FRANC
BLOCKS 9D & 26
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Hendry Cabernet Franc Blocks 9D & 26 Napa Valley

The Hendry family has cultivated grapevines in Napa Valley since 1939, accumulating over 80 years of expertise in viticulture and standing as one of the region’s most prominent wine families. 

Located in the southern part of Napa, their 203-acre ranch benefits from a substantial coastal influence from San Pablo Bay, contributing to fresh acidity and vibrant fruit. Block 26 and 9D, planted in 1998 and 2003, are the Estate’s only Cabernet Franc vines, initially intended for blending; however, George Hendry was so impressed with the fruit quality that he began bottling the Cabernet Franc independently. 

Aged 15 months in French oak, Hendry’s 2019 Cabernet Franc presents fine tannins and a soft texture with a depth of flavor that evolves in the glass and is drinking beautifully after time in the bottle.

HENDRY
CABERNET FRANC
BLOCKS 9D & 26
NAPA VALLEY 2019

Your Price: $48

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“The Hendry 2019 Cabernet Franc from Blocks 26 and 9D opens with beautiful aromatics of lavender, cloves, a wet stone minerality, plums, baking spices, and cigar box. On the palate, the wine has an elegant entrance with soft tannins and flavors of blackberry, red plum, mocha, and saffron, intricately laced with sophistication. The wine’s silky texture flows into a smooth finish that doesn’t let you forget why Cabernet Franc is so special.”

95 Points

2019 Los Vascos Cromas Cabernet Franc Colchagua Valley Chile

2019 Los Vascos Cromas Cabernet Franc Colchagua Valley Chile

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet FrancChileKevin Vogt

LOS VASCOS

CROMAS CABERNET FRANC
GRAN RESERVA 2019
COLCHAGUA VALLEY, CHILE

2019 Los Vascos Cromas Cabernet Franc Colchagua Valley Chile
Spanish conquistadors brought viticulture to Chile in the 16th century. Today, the country boasts some of the world’s most prime vineyard land attracting foreign investment from some of the world’s most respected producers. After years of extensive soil research and tasting many wines to determine the potential of numerous unique sites, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) acquired the Los Vascos estate in 1988.
 
Chateau Lafite’s technical director made several calculated decisions in planting new vines and restructuring existing vineyards, relying on his expertise gained while working for one of Bordeaux’s famous First Growths. The Cromas wine is 100% Cabernet Franc from fruit grown on granite hillsides in the Colchagua Valley, aptly named for the colorful composition of unique flavors in this wine from a Chilean terroir with a French pedigree. It’s simply stunning for this price.
 
LOS VASCOS
CROMAS CABERNET FRANC
GRAN RESERVA 2019
COLCHAGUA VALLEY, CHILE
 
Your Price: $28
 
 
“Los Vascos 2019 Cromas Gran Reserva Cabernet Franc opens with enticing aromas of cloves, cedar, Maraschino cherry, dried herbs, black pepper, and cinnamon sticks. On the palate, the wine has a supple mouthfeel with soft tannins and flavors of red plum, ripe raspberry, chocolate fudge, and cola. The flavor intensity lingers on the palate for a long, smooth finish and irresistible drinkability.”
93 Points
2019 Smith Wooton Cabernet Franc Napa Valley

2019 Smith Wooton Cabernet Franc Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet FrancKevin VogtNapaUSA

SMITH WOOTON

CABERNET FRANC
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Smith Wooton Cabernet Franc Napa Valley
Smith Wooton is Croze Napa Valley Winery’s boutique label, designed to showcase small lots and highlight local growers that share the same passion for the land and the vines as the estate. Daniel Benton is the mastermind behind the wines and spends valuable time in the vineyards to understand the nuances each small parcel contributes to the whole.
 
Daniel creates Smith Wooton’s 2019 Cabernet Franc from a single-acre Cabernet Franc Vineyard in the heart of Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District, where the grapes are cooled nightly by breezes from the San Pablo Bay, producing ideal levels of fresh acidity. The grapes were fermented at cool temperatures, promoting the fruit’s natural purity and creating intricate layers of complexity, revealing the classic characteristics of Cabernet Franc in an eloquent fashion.
 
SMITH WOOTON
CABERNET FRANC
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $55
 
 
 
“The 2019 Smith Wooton Cabernet Franc brings notes of peony, rose petal, red currant, cloves, earthy spice, and leather. The wine has an elegant mouthfeel with flavors of bramble, black cherry, and cocoa with bright, fresh acidity and soft tannins that glide each flavor into a pleasant finish. This wine is drinking enjoyably right now and has a sold backbone making it suitable to age for another decade or so.”
94 Points
Chateau De Parnay Loire Valley Cabernet Franc Saumur Champigny

2018 Chateau De Parnay Loire Valley Cabernet Franc Saumur Champigny

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet FrancFranceKevin VogtLoire Valley

CHÂTEAU DE PARNAY LE BLASON DE PARNAY

SAUMUR CHAMPIGNY 2018 
LOIRE VALLEY CABERNET FRANC

Chateau De Parnay Loire Valley Cabernet Franc Saumur Champigny
Château de Parnay in the Saumur Champigny AOC was purchased in 2006 by Regis Vincenot and Mathias Levron, who revived the estate and transitioned the farming into sustainable practices. Their certified organic vineyards include Old Cabernet Franc vines grown in yellowish-cream colored, chalky, and sandy limestone called tuffeau, a soil unique to the Loire Valley, which is known for producing exquisite quality Cabernet Franc.
 
The grapes for Le Blason were manually harvested and selected specifically for this wine before undergoing a cold maceration for three days, followed by 12 days of gentle extraction, creating a more elegant style of wine. This pristine 100% Cabernet Franc sees no oak during fermentation nor aging, giving rise to divine floral aromas, juicy red fruits, and earthy spice notes that transport you to the Loire Valley without ever having to leave your home.
 
CHÂTEAU DE PARNAY LE BLASON DE PARNAY
SAUMUR CHAMPIGNY 2018 
LOIRE VALLEY CABERNET FRANC
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The 2018 Chateau de Parnay “Le Blason” is vibrant and alive with fresh lavender, wild roses, cranberries, berry bramble, cloves, forest floor, and truffles. The wine shimmers on the palate with flavors of red cherries, red and black raspberries, dried oregano, and savory spices. This wine has a brilliant acidity that beautifully complements the deep complexity and leaves your mouth watering for another sip.”
95 Points
2017 Leto Cabernet Franc Mount Veeder

2017 Leto Cabernet Franc Mount Veeder

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet FrancKevin VogtMt VeederNapaUSA

LETO

CABERNET FRANC
2017 MOUNT VEEDER

2017 Leto Cabernet Franc Mount Veeder
Leto Cellars matches entrepreneurial determination for crafting limited amounts of superior quality wines with hard work that’s intensified with knowledge and more than 50 years of experience. Their 50 case production of Mount Veeder Cabernet Franc exemplifies Brad Warner’s ability to identify exceptional vineyards and transform the fruit into a varietally sound, memorable masterpiece, offering uncanny value. 
 
Brad sourced his Cabernet Franc from a single-vineyard perched at 1,100 feet elevation on Mount Veeder, chosen for its volcanic soils and low yields of concentrated fruit with intense flavor. Mt Veeder is the coolest Mountain in Napa, which allows the grapes a longer hang-time so they can develop into something majestic. With a production of only 50 cases, you might want to keep this one secret, at least until you get your case!
 
LETO
CABERNET FRANC
2017 MOUNT VEEDER
Retails at: $78
 
 
 
“The 2017 Leto Cabernet Franc is a beautiful, classic style that opens with aromas of red currants, black raspberries, fresh florals, bramble, crushed rocks, sage, and a hint of white pepper. The palate is fresh and complex with wild blackberries, dried herbs, baking spices, vanilla, and toast, all perfectly balanced by the wine’s crisp, mountain acidity. The finish is long and savory, with soft, integrated tannins that provide an excellent structure for aging but are also pleasant in the wine’s youth.”
94 Points
2016 Simon Di Brazzan Cabernet Franc Friuli, Italy

2016 Simon Di Brazzan Cabernet Franc Friuli, Italy

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet FrancItalyKevin Vogt

SIMON DI BRAZZAN

2016 CABERNET FRANC
FRIULI, ITALY

2016 Simon Di Brazzan Cabernet Franc Friuli, Italy
Winemaker Daniele Drius of Simon de Brazzan crafts his Cabernet Franc in a captivating style that beckons thoughts of neighborhood bistros, porch swings, and conversation. The wine captures classic varietal traits, like herb-laced red fruits, subtle peppery characteristics, delivering them in a refreshingly easy-to-drink manner that’s reminiscent of Pinot Noir. 
 
Daniele protects the authenticity of his vines through organic farming practices. His thirteen hectares of vines project the sea influence, benefits of the Alps, and alluvial soils. The composition of the land and soils determine the division of each unique parcel. 
 
Tradition does not hinder innovation at Simon di Brazzan. Daniele harvests the fruit by hand and meticulously de-stems the berries before fermenting on the skins and lees for enriched depth and color. The resulting wine is a delicious drinker with a sense of place, balance, and suppleness that’s highly enjoyable.
 
SIMON DI BRAZZAN
2016 CABERNET FRANC
FRIULI, ITALY
 
Your Price: $26
 
 
“Intense ruby red color with purple shades; Distinctive herbaceous scent, elegant and spicy; Velvety flavor, soft, slightly bitter, young but full.”