As prices for vineyard land in Napa Valley starting reaching ridiculous heights, vintners naturally turned to other, nearby growing areas to see if they could replicate Napa’s success at a more reasonable cost. One of the main areas they turned to is Lake County, just north of Napa over Mt. St. Helena, and east of Mendocino. The region does get quite hot in the summer, but it is cooler in the spring and fall, which has meant that it hasn’t been quite as hospitable for making big full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. However, as tastes shift toward more elegant, balanced wines, expect to see Lake County grow in renown. In fact, it is already home to some great planting of other varieties, including Cabernet Franc.
The 2012 Starry Night Cabernet Franc is sourced from a single vineyard in Lake County, La Sierra. As one parent of Cabernet Sauvignon (the other being, obviously perhaps, Sauvignon Blanc), Cab Franc shares much in common with its more famous offspring. However, it does better in cooler climates, and can make a wider range of wine styles. The 2012 Starry Night is medium to pale ruby in color, with a nose of black cherry, sage, and earth. The palate shows red and black cherry and berry flavors, with dried herb adding depth. Nice weight with a clean, bright finish, this lovely red is perfect for lighter meat dishes, and shows stunning complexity for a wine under $30.
Composition: 100% Cabernet Franc
Cooperage: Combination of American and French oak barrels
Harvest Date: October 20th, 2012
Average Sugar at Harvest: 26.7º brix
pH: 3.83
TA: .513 g/100ml
Alcohol: 14.8%
Production: 220 cases
95 Points
Rich and full-bodied, packed with dark fruit flavors of blackberry, ripe plum, and dark cherry. Notes of cocoa, cedar, and warm spice add complexity, while firm tannins and a touch of volcanic minerality reflect the bold characteristics of Calistoga’s terroir. Full-bodied in texture, and remarkably velvety. The tannins gracefully interweave, establishing a flawless equilibrium of acidity and pleasing fruit.
92 Points
Deep floral notes (violets), blackberry, black cherry, and cassis. Driven by the mountain's steep, cool-climate terroir, it balances rich notes of blackberry and pomegranate seamlessly intertwined with dark plum, cocoa dust, and roasted mocha, hints of roasted mocha and spice undertones add depth to its complex profile, culminating in a bold, yet elegant finish.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
