2015 CABERNET FRANC, CHALK HILL, SONOMA COUNTY
Eyes: Crimson and Ruby
Nose: Crushed strawberries, black tea, cedar.
Mouth: Energetic fruit structure, framed by dark currants, savory black figs, and ripe cherries. An elegant, medium-bodied wine, aged in neutral oak, allows the varietal character and the volcanic terrain of the Chalk Hill AVA to shine through. Bright acidity and polished fruit tannins on the finish.
pH 3.74 | 14.4% abv. | 80 cases produced
Bottle price: $55
Eyes: Crimson and Ruby
Nose: Crushed strawberries, black tea, cedar.
Mouth: Energetic fruit structure, framed by dark currants, savory black figs, and ripe cherries. An elegant, medium-bodied wine, aged in neutral oak, allows the varietal character and the volcanic terrain of the Chalk Hill AVA to shine through. Bright acidity and polished fruit tannins on the finish.
pH 3.74 | 14.4% abv. | 80 cases produced
Bottle price: $55
The Site:
The Cabernet Franc hails from the southwest-facing, eastern hillsides of the Chalk Hill AVA. This site is planted to Clone 1 Cabernet Franc, 800' above the valley floor on white volcanic ash. The well drained soils keep canopy vigor and fruit yield in balance. Very fortunate to work with this fruit sustainably managed fruit source!
The Varietal:
Cab Franc is a vigorous vine, and without thoughtful vineyard management you can have over-cropping. Not the case here: minimal groundwater, canopy and cluster maintenance, allowed these fruit sets to fully ripen, and be harvested with sugar and acidity in perfect balance.
The Wine:
By harvesting at optimum ripeness, we are fortunate to make this wine with no additives, extracting color with two manual punchdowns per day and pressing when completely dry. We then barreled down to neutral French oak for 14 months before bottling in the Spring of 2017.
The Label:
The illustration on our NEWBERRY label is by Napa artist/designer/flower-trucker Andrea Jalaty; an ink/watercolor interpretation of a grape stem cross-section viewed through a light micrograph.
The Cabernet Franc hails from the southwest-facing, eastern hillsides of the Chalk Hill AVA. This site is planted to Clone 1 Cabernet Franc, 800' above the valley floor on white volcanic ash. The well drained soils keep canopy vigor and fruit yield in balance. Very fortunate to work with this fruit sustainably managed fruit source!
The Varietal:
Cab Franc is a vigorous vine, and without thoughtful vineyard management you can have over-cropping. Not the case here: minimal groundwater, canopy and cluster maintenance, allowed these fruit sets to fully ripen, and be harvested with sugar and acidity in perfect balance.
The Wine:
By harvesting at optimum ripeness, we are fortunate to make this wine with no additives, extracting color with two manual punchdowns per day and pressing when completely dry. We then barreled down to neutral French oak for 14 months before bottling in the Spring of 2017.
The Label:
The illustration on our NEWBERRY label is by Napa artist/designer/flower-trucker Andrea Jalaty; an ink/watercolor interpretation of a grape stem cross-section viewed through a light micrograph.