2019 Sinegal Estate Cabernet Franc
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I continue to taste more and more brilliant Cabernet Franc from Napa Valley, and Sinegal's 2019 Cabernet Franc is pure gold. A mostly barrel fermented blend of 97% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Petit Verdot brought up in new French oak for 23 months, it has a more elegant, seamless profile compared to the bigger, richer Cabernet Sauvignon releases and just exudes elegance and class in its red, blue, and black fruits as well as spring flowers, graphite, violets, lead pencil, and forest floor-like aromas and flavors. More about purity, finesse, and elegance, while still showing incredible depth and length, it's full-bodied, has perfect tannins, flawless balance, and an incredible finish. Absolutely incredible on every level, this is one of the finest examples of Cabernet Franc to pass my lips. It blossoms with time in the glass and is far from unapproachable today yet will benefit from just a year or two of bottle age and drink fabulously well over the following 20-25 years. Hats off to winemaker Ryan Knoth for an incredible wine.
Critic scores
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2019 Cabernet Franc Old Vine emerges from a parcel on the back of the property planted in 1982 on AxR rootstock. A stunning wine, the Franc finally expresses true varietal character. Whereas previous vintages included quite a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 is almost all Franc. That decision by David Sinegal and winemaker Ryan Knoth resulted in a wine of monumental, heroic proportions. This is a very special wine. Franc has long been famous at this St. Helena property, going back to the days under its previous ownership by the Wolff family. The 2019 is simply extraordinary. That's all there is to it. I can't wait to see how it ages.
The 2019 Cabernet Franc Old Vine marries fruit density, inner perfume and tons of varietal character to a degree I have never seen with this wine before. Inky red/purplish fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice, rose petal and sage are some of the many notes that build as this flamboyant yet impeccably balanced Franc shows off its curves. What a wine!