2023 Cabernet Franc
Winegrowing Information
The 2023 growing season was spectacular! It was the year that you can say was the end of the drought! We enjoyed a long ripening curve, and the season only saw one heat spike over the Labor Day weekend. The flavors in the fruit developed marvelously at lower brix, adding a texture found only in years blessed by controlled temperatures and slow sugar accumulation. Full-bodied flavors developed with mild offshore winds that slightly kissed the berries with mild dehydration. This ever so subtle concentration set the incredible minerality that is the backbone of Kamen Estate Vineyard.
The Cabernet Franc is planted in the Lava Block, a 14-acre microclimate which is the rockiest outcropping of volcanic Basalt on the estate. Planted in 2008, the Lava Block Cabernet Franc vines are hitting their stride and produce fruit that is deeply concentrated, savory, and abundant with minerality – the hallmark of the Lava Block wines.
Tasting Notes
An aromatic jaw-dropper! This wine possesses incredible complexity, layers of depth, and is distinctly expressive of its variety. Red currants, graphite, dark cherries, rhubarb, and brambly wild berries are at the forefront. Wildflowers, black tea, Bay Laurel and the exotic floral purity of Malaysian white pepper add elegance and nuance. The real standout is the driving minerality and notes of crushed rock that are quintessentially Lava Block. The palate is vibrant and flavor-packed. Beautifully textured fine-grained tannins add suppleness. The finish is long and echoing. Enjoy this delicious wine now and over its 20-year evolution.
Production and Technical Data
- 100% Cabernet Franc
- Alcohol: 15.2%
- Production: 120 cases
