2019 Reserve Cabernet Franc

The Cabernet Franc fruit for Sterling Reserve Cabernet Franc was sourced primarily from the Tamagni Vineyard in Calistoga, which lies south of the Sterling winery alongside the Silverado Trail. Cabernet Franc is often used to enhance the framework of Bordeaux-style wines, but the exceptional grapes from this warm vineyard site, with its well-draining, low-vigor, rock-and-clay soils, yields a wine with all the elements to shine as the primary grape variety. 

Historically a Bordeaux blending varietal, Cabernet Franc has a distinct personality of its own highlighted in this reserve bottling. The fruit was hand-harvested in the cool early dawn hours and brought directly to the winery to be hand-sorted, selecting only the highest quality for fermentation in stainless vessels. After undergoing maceration for two weeks with regular pump-overs to extract deep color and rich flavors, the wine is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (60% new) before bottling. A small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon was blended to build structure and enhance the flavor profile.