Tasting Notes: The 2023 Reserve Cabernet Franc elegantly merges delicate, vibrant red raspberry flavors with an earthy, savory backdrop. This wine carries a lightness that contrasts with its rich and ripe nature, as if it seeks to cultivate friendship rather than just impress. Ultimately, it offers a truly delightful experience.

Highlights:

• The last Reserve Cabernet Franc was released in 2010.
• Exclusively sourced from our estate vineyard, highlighting the unique traits of our location. The fruit was harvested late to maximize flavor and sugar ripeness, even in a challenging year.
• Fermentation took place at low temperatures to elevate fruit flavors and allow for gentle extraction. Regular pumping over of the caps added color and structure, with no added yeast to fully showcase the vineyard's expression.
• The wine aged for nine months in a mix of large format and standard-sized barrels, including a portion of new oak, before being bottled with minimal filtration.

Varietal Notes: Cabernet Franc is the middle child of the Bordeaux varieties. Not as structured or as powerful as Cabernet Sauvignon, nor as plush or as fruity as Merlot, it is often overlooked. But Cabernet Franc has found an excellent home in the Finger Lakes. It ripens sooner than Cabernet Sauvignon and is hardier than Merlot through the winters. These viticultural advantages together with its enviable blend of elegance and power have driven Cabernet Franc to the pinnacle of Finger Lakes reds.