2023 Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley, California
Regular price $40.00
Unit price per
100% Cabernet Franc
Tracey and John Skupny founded Lang & Reed Napa Valley in 1993 with a simple but focused vision: to explore the distinct charm of Cabernet Franc and craft wines that are expressive, balanced, and above all, enjoyable to drink.
Their journey began nearly fifty years ago in Kansas City, working in the restaurant world as sommeliers. They fell in love with the way wine could elevate a meal and bring people together. That passion eventually pulled them to California wine country in 1980, and by 1984, they settled in the Napa Valley, ready to pursue a new path among the vines.
When Lang & Reed began their exploration of Cabernet Franc, twenty-seven vintages ago, the main goal was to explore the distinct charms of Cabernet Franc in California, a goal that remains today. Other objectives were to be flexible enough to take advantage of opportunities and to be nimble enough to face adversity or changes. With the past few vintages, in California, they have faced that adversity. Since 2015, the seasonal fires in Northern California have reached apocalyptic proportions, and the impact on the North Coast County Appellation has been devastating. For the 2023 vintage, they sourced Cabernet Franc from a number of their regularly sourced vineyards, but there were a handful of vineyards and grapes that presented too large of a challenge to work with. Therefore, they had to source a little bit south to Cienega Valley, in California’s Central Coast, as well as the renowned Rock Pile AVA in Northern Sonoma County.
The nose starts with crushed red stone fruits and violet petals with scents of potpourri. As the wine warms and opens, this defines more as dried rosemary and thyme. The flavors are juicy and tart, mirroring the stone fruit, with the addition of dried cranberry. Acidity leads the finish, making the wine mouthwatering, all the while still carrying the fruit flavor, anise and typical graphite notes. While it is still a tad racy in its youth, with cellar time, the components will come in harmony, awaiting warmer weather.