2017 The Scrapper, Cabernet Franc, El Dorado

92 PTS, James Suckling
"Reserved character here, with notes of cedar wood, tobacco, spices and lead pencil to the red fruit. Medium to full-bodied with firm tannins and juicy dark fruit on the palate. Dry and polished with a long, even aftertaste. Drink or hold."

91 PTS, Wine Enthusiast
"This wine is tightly wound, intensely flavorful and will benefit from extended time in the bottle. A great nose of red and black cherries, cranberries and cinnamon is followed by densely layered fruit and subtle spice flavors, all wrapped in significant fine-grained tannins. Best from 2025." - JG

This wine displays it’s silky and elegant tannins in the form of ripe blueberry, cassis, tobacco and black cherry lined with integrated vanilla made possible by 26 months of French oak aging.

This heavily extracted Cabernet Franc is from mountain fruit and has a deep dark plum color showcasing the intense color capacity from grapes of low yielding vines. Intense blueberry, cassis and huckleberry aromas jump out of the glass and are framed by subtle cinnamon notes. The grower Ron Mansfield has a degree in renewable agriculture and organically farms this vineyard (though not certified) using sustainable practices for over 35 years. Ron also grows tree fruit such as peaches, nectarines, apples and pears and we lovingly tease him that he is the most noteworthy producer of the $3 peach you can find seasonally at select Whole Foods stores nationally. We have produced Cabernet Franc grown by Ron for over 20 years, the 2016 was our 19th.

On the palate the wine is silky in texture and then rolls into the varietal “franc” spice which is best described as fresh picked wild currants. The wine then displays it’s silky and elegant tannins in the form of ripe blueberry, cassis, tobacco and black cherry lined with integrated vanilla made possible by 26 months of French oak aging. Cabernet Franc is still considered a somewhat esoteric grape varietal which has parentage tracing back to the king of grape varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a very special wine with limited production from a hillside, red dirt soil, head trained vine, single vineyard at an elevation of 1,600 feet within the Sierra Mountains in El Dorado. It drinks well in it’s youth while sturdy, but will mature gracefully for 20+ years.

Try this wine with any dish suitable for a big Cabernet Sauvignon. The pinnacle choice being New York Steak with a huckleberry demi glaze s2uce with steamed baby carrots and mushroom couscous. Its great with any grilled or roasted meat such as Carnitas Pork, New Zealand Lamb chops or rosemary chicken. Try it with an Impossible Burger - epic!

2015
93 PTS, “Editor’s Choice”, Wine Enthusiast, August 2018

2013
92 PTS, “Editor’s Choice”, Wine Enthusiast, March 2018
"A deep, plum black cherry hue, with aromas of ripe black cherry and cassis notes."