Mt. Brave has been on our Top Cab list in the past, but this year, it's their Cabernet Franc that has garnered the limelight! This wine is made by Chris Carpenter, who is the absolute master at taming the sometimes massive tannins that come from mountain-grown Cabernets. Chris has several 100-point scores to his credit, and makes Lokoya, Cardinale, La Jota, and others. In fact, the grapes used for Mt. Brave come from the same vineyard used to make the 100 points wines for Lokoya's Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon!
The high altitude keeps midday temperatures cooler than those in the valley below, while the position above the fog line gives grapes longer daily exposure to sunlight. This regularly extends the growing season into November, and the increased hang-time results in peak ripeness and full varietal complexity.
JEB DUNNUCK 97 POINTS - "Another beautiful wine in this lineup is the 2018 Cabernet Franc, which is 100% varietal and spent 22 months in 80% new French oak. Its deep purple hue is followed by a rich, full-bodied, incredibly layered 2018 offering beautiful cassis and mulberry fruit, notes of tobacco, dried flowers, and chocolate, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. This remarkable 2018 should be snatched up by readers, as it represents a smoking value!"
ANTONIO GALLONI 95 POINTS - "The 2018 Cabernet Franc is one of the most distinctive wines in this range. Inky dark fruit, mocha, gravel, spice, menthol and licorice are kicked up several notches in this potent, virile Franc. Time in the glass brings out the wine's floral and spice overtones along with distinctly red shades of fruit. There is a bit of oak influence, but the Franc handles it well while retaining quite a bit of varietal character."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 94+ POINTS - "The 2018 Cabernet Franc is one of the most distinctive wines in this range. Inky dark fruit, mocha, gravel, spice, menthol and licorice are kicked up several notches in this potent, virile Franc. Time in the glass brings out the wine's floral and spice overtones along with distinctly red shades of fruit. There is a bit of oak influence, but the Franc handles it well while retaining quite a bit of varietal character."
The high altitude keeps midday temperatures cooler than those in the valley below, while the position above the fog line gives grapes longer daily exposure to sunlight. This regularly extends the growing season into November, and the increased hang-time results in peak ripeness and full varietal complexity.
JEB DUNNUCK 97 POINTS - "Another beautiful wine in this lineup is the 2018 Cabernet Franc, which is 100% varietal and spent 22 months in 80% new French oak. Its deep purple hue is followed by a rich, full-bodied, incredibly layered 2018 offering beautiful cassis and mulberry fruit, notes of tobacco, dried flowers, and chocolate, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. This remarkable 2018 should be snatched up by readers, as it represents a smoking value!"
ANTONIO GALLONI 95 POINTS - "The 2018 Cabernet Franc is one of the most distinctive wines in this range. Inky dark fruit, mocha, gravel, spice, menthol and licorice are kicked up several notches in this potent, virile Franc. Time in the glass brings out the wine's floral and spice overtones along with distinctly red shades of fruit. There is a bit of oak influence, but the Franc handles it well while retaining quite a bit of varietal character."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 94+ POINTS - "The 2018 Cabernet Franc is one of the most distinctive wines in this range. Inky dark fruit, mocha, gravel, spice, menthol and licorice are kicked up several notches in this potent, virile Franc. Time in the glass brings out the wine's floral and spice overtones along with distinctly red shades of fruit. There is a bit of oak influence, but the Franc handles it well while retaining quite a bit of varietal character."