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Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2021 (750ml)
Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $24.99
There are textured flavors of cassis, plum, black cherry, vanilla and blueberry.
| Producer | Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Franc |
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| Country | United States |
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| Region | California |
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| Subregion | Alexander Valley, Sonoma County |
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| Varietal | 100% Cabernet FrancCali |
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| Vintage | 2021 |
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| Sku | 31202 |
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| Size | 750ml |
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Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2021
Estate Grown & Bottled
One of a few 100% Cabernet Francs produced in California
We produce one of the few 100% Cabernet Francs in the region. Some may think this a wine geek’s wine, but anytime we open a bottle and pour a glass we get a new fan. Our first vintage was in 1996, since then it is always one of our most anticipated releases.
2021 was almost a perfect growing season, though it began with a cold start, and lack of rain. The weather warmed up, but the drought continued. This was followed by weeks of steady daytime heat and cool evenings. The berries ripened evenly, however yields were a bit lighter than in prior vintages due to the lack of rainfall.
After harvest the grapes were fermented in our smaller tanks resulting in good extraction and concentrated flavors with pump-overs occurring twice daily for two weeks. Winemaker Kevin Hall complemented the big, bold flavors of this vintage with a selection of 30% new French oak barrels - 50% Medium Toast, 50% Medium Toast+. The 16 months barrel aging enhanced the complexity, structure and flavors of the wine while adding mouthfeel and nuances of barrels spice.
Tasting Notes
The 2021 Cabernet Franc is a dark purple, ruby colored wine with dark fruit aromas of black cherry, cola, plum, blueberry, vanilla and a hint of black olive. There are textured flavors of cassis, plum, black cherry, vanilla and blueberry. This is a chewy wine with balanced acidity along with long structured finish.
Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Franc Description
Alexander Valley Vineyards
After purchasing the historic Cyrus Alexander homestead, Harry and Maggie Wetzel strived to create a thriving agricultural lifestyle on the property. They raised their children along with their vines in Alexander Valley, providing inspiration and encouragement as they developed the estate together. Decades later, the fourth generation of their family is growing up amongst vineyards and next door to the working winery that is known around the world as “AVV”. You could call it a family tradition. We’d be inclined to agree.
Winemaking Philosophy
Winemaker Kevin Hall is constantly adapting to the rhythms of nature, the readiness of the vineyards and the evolution of the individual wines. While our vineyards provide the sense of terroir and consistent character of our fruit, our winemaking staff provides the invaluable experience. Their work is constant and crucial; topping the barreled wines to minimize air contact as they develop, monitoring and measuring the young wines as they progress, and tasting, tasting, tasting. Decades of experience tying vineyard and winery together give AVV total control of wine production, resulting in rich, complex wines that showcase a truly robust sense of place.
Vineyards
The Wetzel Family Estate now spans over 700 acres, straddling Highway 128 with vineyards on both sides of the Russian River to the west and bordered by the Mayacamas mountains to the east. In between there is a wide range of microclimates, elevations, exposures and soil types. Most importantly, there is water.
Premium vineyards were virtually unknown in the Alexander Valley in the 1960s. Unencumbered by local tradition, the Wetzels were pioneers, planting classic grape varieties and implementing innovative vineyard techniques.
There is no shortcut to consistent quality. At AVV we match grape varieties to microclimates and soil profiles, planting specific rootstocks and clones. We use drip irrigation to deliver the right amount of water to the vines and trellising to control canopy management. This progressive approach has kept AVV a leader in vineyard development over the last 50 years.
Vine density, clonal selection, rootstock, trellising and canopy management are tailored to each site and are as critical to our success as the soil, water, elevation and exposure. Warm days and cool nights are the norm in the southern end of the valley as the coastal marine layer that comes in off the ocean drops the temperature 40 to 50 degrees after nightfall. These daily temperature swings cool the grapes as they grow and are the key to the elegance and balance in our wine.
