2021 Brecon Reserve Cabernet Franc
Shh, better be quiet around them… these old vines sure do hold 50 years of secrets. To tell you the truth, we even thought about not writing a tasting note, knowing it will sell out with a snap of the fingers. We even considered (for a fleeting moment) to let Chat GPT write this note for us. But as a whimsical wordsmith, I figured I shall not let technology take over this winery just yet! Since we have old vines, we might as well keep it old fashioned for a while longer. These smooth old rascals grow regally on its own Calcareous hilltop, creating lovely cherry-red, subtly fragrant, soft quality.
96 pts. CA State Fair, April 2024
In the ferment it has a strong aromatic tea-leafy character, akin to an English Breakfast or perhaps an Assam. This eventually fades and fully integrates itself into the wine adding even more complexity. It does however take a little longer than your average cuppa to brew; twenty months in fine French barriques plus a minimum of seven months bottle age before release.
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Varietal Composition | 97.66% 2021 CF Brecon (73% old vine)
0.78% 2021 PV Brecon
1.56% 2022 PS Adelaida District |
| Appellation | Paso Robles, Adelaida |
| Acid | 0.55g/100ml |
| PH | 3.83 |
| Aging | Drink Now - 2038 |
| Residual Sugar | 0.03g/100ml |
| Alcohol | 14.80% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 08/22/2023 |
| Cases Produced | 264 |
Brecon’s Cabernet Franc is from the upper flank of our Estate vineyard, yet it's in a cool coastally-influenced spot so we get extra long hang time harvesting typically in the first week of November. Just as the first Pacific storms start to roll in! Rocky hilltop soils make the vines struggle, yet produce super intense berry flavors. Planted in the 70's, the vines have passed their youthful exuberance, settling down into their best producing years. Back then, nobody was planting Cabernet Franc on hilltops.
