Full Review

Pedroncelli

Pedroncelli
2018 Barrel Select, Cabernet Franc, Dry Creek Valley

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Franc

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.2%
93 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$20
Best Buy
Cellar Selection

Pedroncelli
2018 Barrel Select, Cabernet Franc, Dry Creek Valley

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Franc

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.2%
Rich violet color. Aromas and flavors of damson plum, vanilla-violet pastilles, red peppers, plump olives, tarragon, and dark chocolate with a lightly tannic, vibrant, medium-full body and a warming, involved, long finish that exhibits notes of cedar and spice cabinet with moderate oak flavor. A bold, chewy, highly satisfying Cabernet Franc with great varietal character and elegant style.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Oaky, Rich & Full & Spicy & Complex
Aroma Aroma: damson plum, vanilla-violet pastilles, red peppers, plump olives, tarragon, and dark chocolate
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of cedar and spice cabinet
Sweetness Sweetness: Dryish
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Pot Roast, Steak & Potatoes, Beef Stew
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A bold, chewy, highly satisfying Cabernet Franc with great varietal character and elegant style.

The Producer

J. Pedroncelli Winery

The Producer
1220 Canyon Rd
Geyserville, CA 95441
USA
1 707-857-3531

Their Portfolio

88 Pedroncelli 2018 Mother Clone, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 14.8% (USA) $19.00.
89 Pedroncelli 2017 Bushnell Vineyard, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 16.1% (USA) $26.00.
92 Pedroncelli 2017 Courage-Faloni Vineyard, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 16.1% (USA) $32.00.
BR Pedroncelli 2018 Alto Vineyards, Sangiovese, Dry Creek Valley 14.7% (USA) $18.00. - Bronze Medal
93 Pedroncelli 2017 Sonoma Classico Red Blend, Other Red, Dry Creek Valley 14.7% (USA) $18.00.
91 Pedroncelli 2014 Four Grapes Vintage Port, Dry Creek Valley 19% (USA) $28.00.
93 Pedroncelli 2018 Three Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley 14.2% (USA) $20.00.
89 Pedroncelli 2018 Bench Vineyards, Merlot, Dry Creek Valley 14.1% (USA) $18.00.
94 Pedroncelli 2018 Block 007 Estate Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley 13.9% (USA) $26.00.
93 Pedroncelli 2018 Barrel Select, Cabernet Franc, Dry Creek Valley 14.2% (USA) $20.00.
BR Pedroncelli 2019 Signature Selection, Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley 14.1% (USA) $17.00. - Bronze Medal
92 Pedroncelli 2019 Signature Selection, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 14.1% (USA) $22.00.
90 Pedroncelli 2019 Mother Clone, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 15.5% (USA) $20.00.
92 Pedroncelli 2019 Alto Vineyards, Sangiovese, Dry Creek Valley 15.7% (USA) $19.00.
90 Pedroncelli 2019 Friends Red Blend, Sonoma County 14.4% (USA) $14.00.
85 Pedroncelli 2019 Bushnell Vineyard, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 16% (USA) $30.00.
90 Pedroncelli 2019 Three Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley 14.4% (USA) $24.00.
93 Pedroncelli 2019 Block 007 Estate Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley 14.5% (USA) $30.00.
93 Pedroncelli 2019 Bench Vineyards, Merlot, Dry Creek Valley 14.5% (USA) $22.00.
88 Pedroncelli 2019 Barrel Select Sonoma Classico Red Blend, Dry Creek Valley 14.4% (USA) $24.00.
BR Pedroncelli 2018 "Courage" Faloni Vineyard, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 16.2% (USA) $40.00. - Bronze Medal
88 Pedroncelli 2021 Signature Selection Rosé, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 13.9% (USA) $22.00.
89 Pedroncelli 2021 Signature Selection, Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley 14% (USA) $20.00.
89 Pedroncelli 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County 13.9% (USA) $16.00.
88 Pedroncelli 2021 Signature Selection, Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley 14% (USA) $20.00.
90 Pedroncelli 2021 F. Johnson Vineyard, Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley 14.2% (USA) $38.00.
93 Pedroncelli 2020 Three Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley 14.3% (USA) $24.00.
92 Pedroncelli 2020 Bench Vineyards, Merlot, Dry Creek Valley 13.7% (USA) $24.00.
90 Pedroncelli 2020 Block 007 Estate Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley 13.9% (USA) $36.00.

Cabernet Franc

Wine Glass Cabernet.jpg
Serve in a Cabernet Wine Glass
Cabernet Franc is very closely related to cabernet sauvignon; it is widely presumed that cabernet franc is just a well established mutation. It is ideally suited to cooler climates, as it buds and ripens earlier than cabernet sauvignon. Additionally, it is less susceptible to poor weather during harvest. In the Medoc and Graves region of Bordeaux, where it typically constitutes about 15% of the final blend, it is seen as a measure of insurance against poor cabernet sauvignon or merlot weather. Cabernet franc used to be planted almost as widely as cabernet sauvignon in Bordeaux well into the 60s, but cabernet sauvignon had swung into such favor that 30 years later it had twice the acreage of cabernet franc.

Cabernet franc tends to be lighter in color and tannins than cabernet sauvignon, with an earlier-maturing character. On Bordeaux's Right Bank, cabernet franc has a stronger foothold, and is best known as the dominant grape in the blend for the famed château, Cheval Blanc. It is the most widely planted red varietal in the Loire, where it yields lighter wines, like Chinon, with distinct herbal overtones. US cabernet francs are still largely in the experimental stage; there is a huge spectrum of interpretations, from heavy Napa wines to lighter styles from the East Coast.

Cabernet Franc is noted for its deep ruby red color and peppery, spicy character. It has moderate tannins and good acidity. Generally a Cabernet Franc should be consumed with some age - at least five years - while the finest versions drink well for more than twenty years.

Pair Cabernet Franc with hearty foods such as wild game, game birds and roasts.