Églantine 2022

A new wine here for Pat. Although not unfamiliar with making 100% Cabernet Franc, this is the first time in a while (maybe since the Griottes era) that we’ve seen a full Cab Franc. Normally blended with Cabernet Sauvignon as Homo Ça Coince, 2022 saw good yields for the red varieties, enough to vinify separately. Several months of maceration whole cluster in qvevri, with another year of aging after pressing. This is a Cab Franc with a big amount of concentration. As sappy and opaque a version as we’ve ever come across. Dark cherry fruit with earth and intoxicating violet aromas. Cabernet Franc signatures are here with its peppery pyrazine quality, but certainly play more of a supporting role to the dense core of fruit. Whole cluster maceration is notable with big tannins in the mouth. The fruit still remains lifted and aromatic with a solid backbone of juicy acidity. Stunning Cab Franc with a long life ahead of it. Powerful.