2022 Brecon Cabernet Franc
Is it important to flirt with dirt? “That be the question”! These Brecon Estate vines certainly have a thing going on between their own roots and our calcareous hilltop subsoils. Our friendly neighbourhood bard (Aka Winemaker) would also like to point out that arguably the best Franc’s in Bordeaux play footsie with a similar Calcareous bedrock in St. Emilion. The result is lovely bright natural acids. This combined with our coastally influenced locale means a long hang time and flavours that get truly flavor ripe. It's a lush red fruit complexity that is unmatched in the region. But “alas poor Yorik”, It’s truly a Shakespearean tragedy that these playful wines don't stick around.
Gold. SF Chronicle Wine Competition, January 2025
93 pts, Gold. LA Invitational Wine Comp, March 2025
Vinified in exactly the same way as our reserve Cabernet Franc, except we get a little more creative with the blending. In this case a cast of five other strong characters. Not merely bit parts, but essential to the plot! We also tend to be a little heavier handed with the percentage of more youthful vines, adding both a vibrancy and vitality that pairs well in Romeo and Juliet type situations.
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Varietal Composition | 73.30% 2022 Cabernet Franc (New Vines), Adelaida District, Brecon Estate Vineyard
8.66% 2022 Cabernet Franc (Old Vines), Adelaida District, Brecon Estate Vineyard
8.66% 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Adelaida District, Brecon Estate Vineyard
4.77% 2022 Petit Verdot, Adelaida District, Brecon Estate Vineyard
3.10% 2022 Tannat, Adelaida District, Brecon Estate Vineyard
1.01% 2023 Syrah, Adelaida District, Glenrose Vineyard
0.50% 2022 Malbec, Adelaida, Brecon Estate Vineyard |
| Appellation | Paso Robles, Adelaida |
| Acid | 0.54g/100ml |
| PH | 3.80 |
| Aging | Drink Now - 2039 |
| Residual Sugar | 0.04g/100ml |
| Alcohol | 14.80% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 08/20/2024 |
| Cases Produced | 305 |
Brecon’s Cabernet Francs are from the upper reaches 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. Rocky hilltop calcareous soils make the vines struggle, yet produce super intense berry flavors. The first block was planted in the mid-70s, the second in 2018. The clones seem to complement each other superbly well, in our humble opinion.
