2023 Mt. Brave
Cabernet Franc

100 Points
"The Cabernet Franc vines here are shaded by towering Douglas firs, casting long shadows across the site as the sun stes. Originally intended as a blending component for the Cabernet Sauvignon, winemaker Chris Carpenter loved the signature and its similarity to what was happening with the La Jota Cabernet Franc on Howell Mountain. Here, across the valley on Mount Veeder, the Cabernet Franc shows real forest berry intensity that carries through to the tannins, which have a deep redwood or conifer quality to them; like the dark, firm bark of those trees, but finely grained and perfectly integrated. They form a solid foundation for all of the dark blackberry fruit and rich brown baking spice character to shine through, alongside dark salted chocolate notes, and intense graphite minerality that spreads itself across the palate with such fantastic mineral intensity that you really have to marvel at this wine. It's such a structural marvel, and in a challenging vintage like 2022, all the more impressive. Enjoy this wine now for its decadent up-front dark fruit and spice, or lay it down and watch it evolve into magical complexity over the next 20 to 30 years."

Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter June 2026