2018 Titus Cabernet Franc Napa Valley

2018 Titus Cabernet Franc Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet FrancKevin VogtNapaSaint HelenaUSA

TITUS

CABERNET FRANC
2018 NAPA VALLEY

2018 Titus Cabernet Franc Napa Valley
When a winemaker designs a winery solely for crafting his namesake wines, he sets himself up for complete control over every aspect of the process, and that’s when great things happen. Brothers Eric and Philip Titus believe the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. They meticulously blend their wines, creating complete wines with superior expressions of the variety, vintage, and region. The proof is in a glass of their Cabernet Franc, which also happens to be a remarkable value.
 
The 2018 Titus Cabernet Franc arose from two sites; Titus Estate in Saint Helena and Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard in South Napa. The cooler-climate South Napa site contributes brighter acid and structure, while the Saint Helena Vineyard adds power and intensity. 
 
Philip Titus is a seasoned winemaker revered for authoring Chappellet’s Pritchard Hill wines for nearly three decades and leaving countless World Class wines in his wake. He and his brother continually evolve their farming to further understand their unique land. Their passion for creating outstanding wines of great value and a sense of place is highly evident in this Cab Franc.
 
TITUS
CABERNET FRANC
2018 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $58
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“The 2018 Titus Cabernet Franc is a wine filled with the elegance and grace that is indicative of the variety. Aromas of allspice, caraway, cranberry, strawberry jam, and violets lift out of the glass. The smooth entry is filled with notes of dark cherry, pomegranate, cinnamon, and baking spices as the wine glides across the palate. Mouth filling and smooth though the finish the tannins are finely developed with a light touch that leaves the wine lingering with toasty spices and anise. Enjoy through 2030.”
2016 Lateral Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2016 Lateral Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet FrancKevin VogtMerlotNapaProprietary RedUSA

LATERAL 

PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY

2016 Lateral Proprietary Red Napa ValleyLateral is a wine inspired by the Bordeaux region of St. Emilion and influenced by the interplay and tension created between Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Proprietor Marty Mathis, whom you might recognize from his super high-scoring Kathryn Kennedy wines, decided to showcase how each of these iconic grapes can harmonize to compliment yet contrast each other way that’s different from other Bordeaux style blends, and the results simply have to be tasted.  

 
Lateral’s 2016 vintage slants towards cooler-climate, expressive vineyards, primarily located in the Southern portion of Napa Valley. On the palate, it’s a highly detailed wine with spiced red fruits, wild mint, rock minerals, rose and cocoa dusted plum. 
 
A stunning example of just how inspiring Right Bank influenced blends from Napa Valley can be, Marty loves to showcase the lush textures and richness of Merlot entirely opposing the aromatic qualities and structure of Cabernet Franc.  At under $40, you might grab a case quickly, before this deal goes sideways.
 
LATERAL 
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $50
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
 
“Very deep dark royal purple color. Classic Bordeaux style nose with tobacco leaf herb notes and dark brooding black berry aromas plus hints of cherry cream candies. Ideal amounts of subtle creamy oak barrel influences. Soft ripe plums, vanilla cream and loamy earth notes are complex and very inviting. Fresh but rich in the mouth (like so many wines of 2016), lithe and elegant mouth-feel leads to cranberry, minerals and dark cocoa flavors. Tannins are still youthful and acid balance portends well for cellar development; This is a bigger style of LATERAL to be en- joyed now and over a longer period of years”  67% Merlot | Cabernet Franc 33%
2015 Leto Cellars Mt Veeder Cabernet Franc

2015 Leto Mt Veeder Cabernet Franc

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

LETO

CABERNET FRANC
2015 MT VEEDER

2015 Leto Cellars Mt Veeder Cabernet Franc
If Napa Valley Cabernet is gold, then Cabernet Franc is platinum, due to its scarcity and cult following. There’s around twenty times as much Cabernet Sauvignon planted in Napa Valley, and on average, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes sell for less than Cabernet Franc. The coveted grape is revered for its stunning power, concentration, delineation, and mouthwatering acidity. Leto’s 2015 Mt Veeder Cabernet Franc, which retails at $78, is simply brilliant. What’s left of this 50 case production is going to fly.
 
Leto sourced their 2015 Cabernet Franc from a single-vineyard perched at 1,100 feet elevation on Mount Veeder. They chose this site for the incredible volcanic soils and vines that yield small, powerful berries with intense flavor. 
 
Mt Veeder is the coolest Mountain in Napa, which allows the grapes to have 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
2015 MT VEEDER
Retails at: $78
 
 
 
“The Leto Cellars Mount Veeder Cabernet Franc 2015 begins with a beautiful nose of red cherries, fresh sage leaf, Spring lavender, and Italian glove leather. On the palate, it is vibrant, with penetrating red cherries, black licorice, nutrient-rich earth, with sweet vanilla oak and spice box, and a gorgeous, lingering finish. Drink now through 2028.” 93 Points
2015 Selene 'Chesler' Cabernet Franc

2015 Selene ‘Chesler’ Cabernet Franc

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet FrancCalistogaKevin VogtNapaUncategorizedUSA

SELENE

2015 CHESLER
CABERNET FRANC

 
2015 Selene 'Chesler' Cabernet Franc
Mia Klein’s 2015 Chesler is so ridiculously good, that once you taste it, you might end up calling me back, wanting to pay more for it.  Sure!  Anyway, Chesler has been a staple in our Yountville store since we opened, and is easily one of the best wines on the shelf in the $50 range.  It’s a profound interpretation of New World Cabernet Franc and Merlot from ancient vines in the Frediani Vineyard.  The wine was composed by Mia Klein, who has a long history of making wines for Dalla Valle, Spottswoode, Araujo, Viader, and Chappellet, as well as being named Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine.  This perfectly choreographed dance between the dominant Cabernet Franc is softened by blending elegant, supple Merlot.  The 2015 Chesler engages your emotions with intense blueberry and vivid red raspberry notes pirouetting with white flowers, wild mint, chocolate and wild rose.
 
Sculpted from the historic Frediani Vineyard which was planted in 1905, Mia gives voice to the Cabernet Franc and Merlot vines from this vineyard, and the result has to be tasted to be believed.  A blend of 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot, the 2015 is full-bodied and opulent with great depth and delineation.  The Merlot adds an opulence to the Cab Franc, softening any hard edges that might have otherwise existed, and the end result is simply stunning.  Don’t let this one ski by…
 
SELENE
2015 CHESLER
CABERNET FRANC
Retails at:  $50/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes: “Mixed berry pie, complete with crisp, buttery crust, dark chocolate dipped fresh strawberry, and light caramel in the aromatics. The aromas come through with impact and intensity in the mouth, especially the fresh strawberry. The tannins are just a half step in the foreground of the other flavors, showing a bit of chewiness, acting as the mortar cementing the parts into the whole.”  85% Cabernet Franc | 15% Merlot
2014 Catena San Carlos Cabernet Franc

2014 Catena ‘San Carlos’ Cabernet Franc

with No Comment $30 and underArgentinaCabernet FrancKevin Vogt

CATENA

2014 CABERNET FRANC
SAN CARLOS, APPELLATION SERIES 

2014 Catena San Carlos Cabernet Franc
We recently had a discussion about the most influential and iconic winemakers in each Country… In the US, Robert Mondavi  and Andre Tchelistcheff highlight the conversation, and in Italy, Angelo Gaja reigns supreme.  In Argentina the exchange was centered around Nicolás Catena Zapata.  The largest commonalty between each of these paragons is that they’ve inspired an entire wine region and the people surrounding it.  Catena Zapata pioneered high-altitude farming in Argentina and some would compare their top vineyards to the best Vineyards of Bordeaux.  Their wines always conjure up emotion, inspiration and passion. You can actually taste palpable levels of these rare qualities in their wines.  It sounds expensive right? At less than thirty per bottle, wines that exude this much class are rare…
 
Arising from the family’s historic vineyards in San Carlos, this pure expression of high-elevation Cabernet Franc was sourced from around 3,500 feet.  The soils there are Alluvial sandy loam with thick calcareous layers that provide excellent drainage and gives the fruit a clear expression of it’s origins.  The 2014 was cellared for around 12 months in barrel and now with ample time in the bottle, this wine provides the perfect mix of deep, supple flavors, supporting layers of dark fruits, clay and minerals with hints of eucalyptus and black cherry…
 
CATENA
2014 CABERNET FRANC
SAN CARLOS, APPELLATION SERIES
Retails at:  $30.00/btl
 
Your Price: $22.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 23%
 
From Vinous: “Enticing aromatic lift to the aromas of purple fruits, violet and brown spices. Suaver than the Agrelo Cabernet Sauvignon, offering exhilarating cut and penetration and an ideal balance between sweetness and suppleness of fruit and acidity. Savory, plush and ripe for all its energy. Finishes with big but thoroughly ripe, dusty tannins and excellent breadth and length. Terrific berry intensity here.”  91 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Catena’s San Carlos Cabernet Franc may also enjoy these two terrific wines…
 

2015 Vian Cobos Cocodrilo Proprietary Red2012 Vik Milla Calla Proprietary Red

 
VINA COBOS
COCODRILO CORTE
2015 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $27.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
Winery Notes: “Great freshness to the nose, where we find morello cherry, cassis, pomegranate and black cherry. Spice notes -from the cabernet component- touch on black peppercorn, clove and paprika, are complemented by floral, herbal and balsam notes.  The pliable sweet tannins alternate with the fruit and spice notes through the long finish.” 91 Points – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
VIK
2012 MILLA CALA
PROPRIETARY RED
MILLAHUE VALLEY, CHILE
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From The Wine Spectator, “Rich and refined, delivering unctuous dark fruit and spice flavors that offer a creamy svelteness. Slate and mineral accents linger on the complex finish, with dark chocolate and olive notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot. Drink now through 2022…”  94 Points
2015 Octopoda North Coast Cabernet Franc

2015 Octopoda North Coast Cabernet Franc

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet FrancCalistogaKevin VogtNorth CoastUSA

OCTOPODA 

2015 CABERNET FRANC
NORTH COAST

2015 Octopoda North Coast Cabernet FrancPulling you in like tentacles from the deep, Octopoda is the real deal in great Cabernet Franc. Some of the best Cabernet Francs produced in California are regarded for their profound elegance and aromatics.  The only problem is that finding a great one, and at a reasonable price is about as rare as spotting a mythical sea creature.  And, there’s a reason that Cabernet Franc grapes are in higher demand and cost more on average then Cabernet Sauvignon. When carefully selected and produced, they can rival some of the best Cabernet Sauvignons out there.  Case and point, this one is really special and sucks you in…
 
Inked from a single vineyard North of Calistoga, the 2015 Octopoda Cabernet Franc is oozes squid ink black fruits, volcanic minerals, camphor, and black cherries and graphite with flavors deeper than the Mariana Trench. Held captive for 14 months in oak barrels, this 2015 is absolutely stunning right now and should age gracefully for the next decade or more.  
 
OCTOPODA 
2015 CABERNET FRANC
NORTH COAST
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes: “Complex, lush and well balanced. This offers great intensity of dark fruit, baking cocoa, fresh herbs and licorice. The fruit shows beautiful ripeness tempered with savory herb notes.”
 
Customers who enjoy Octopoda’s Cabernet Franc may also enjoy these two outstanding Reds… 
2014 Selene Chesler Cabernet Franc
 2015 James Joseph Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Franc
SELENE
2014 CHESLER
CABERNET FRANC
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 
 

This profound interpretation of Cabernet Franc and Merlot was created by legendary winemaker Mia Klein, whose track record includes making wines for Dalla Valle, Spottswoode, Araujo, Viader, and Chappellet, as well as being named Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine.  This perfectly choreographed dance between the dominant Cabernet Franc is softened by blending elegant Merlot. 
JAMES JOSEPH
2015 CABERNET FRANC
RESERVE, NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 
 
With a total production of only 4 barrels, this rarely bottled varietal from James Josephgrabs you right from the start.  Showing surreal-like tension between Atlas Peak and Diamond Mountain terroirs, the 2015 is locked and loaded with crushed black fruits, camphor, burning embers, and black cherries, laced with volcanic minerals, graphite and crushed rock