Lot Overview
- Region: 100% Oakville District, eastside volcanic bench (Vine Cliff estate)
- Vintage: 2023
- Varietal: 86% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (Lot 15/Ghost Block), 4% Petit Verdot
- Oak Aging: ~45% new French oak
- Alcohol: 14.5%
- Cases Available: ~700 (Cam selling a portion)
- Cam Price: ~$11.50/bottle ($139/case)
- Retail Estimate: $100+/bottle
- Claude’s Source Guess: Vine Cliff Winery — Oakville Estate Cabernet Franc
- Wine Berserkers Guess: Vine Cliff
- Drink Window: 2026–2038 (peak 2028–2035)
Cameron’s Release Notes
Hailing from a $100+/bottle, estate-grown program based in the eastside volcanics of the upper Oakville Bench, this is a spectacular-yet-beautifully balanced effort. This came to us as 100% Cabernet Franc/100% Oakville — their main component, not their finished blend. We polished this off with 10% of the Lot 15 Oakville Cabernet we held back and one of three barrels of dynamite Oakville Petit Verdot from one of Napa’s all-time rockstar winemakers. All components originate from $100+ programs grown in the same eastside Oakville alluvial soils.
Tasting Notes
Deep garnet, opaque core. Spicy cherry (think Red Hots) and cassis mingle with graphite, blueberry pie, cedar and dark chocolate bass notes. Fleshy, vibrant and energetic on the palate with gobs of structure welded to a core of beautifully integrated blue and black fruits riding red-rock flecked, minerally tannins. The midpalate is vibrant and juicy with a long, energetic finish pulsating with cherry kirsch and blackcurrant. Superbly balanced, voluptuous yet mouthwatering, seamless across the palate.
⏳ Bottle Shock Status: Bottled August 28th. Allow 60–90 days minimum.
Claude’s Source Guess: Vine Cliff Winery — Oakville Estate Cabernet Franc
Vine Cliff is an Oakville estate situated on the eastern bench near the Vaca Range foothills, farming in the volcanic soils that distinguish the east side of the AVA from the alluvial loams of the west side. Their estate includes Cabernet Franc as a dedicated varietal program, and the winery produces small quantities of $100+ estate wines from these blocks. The “upper Oakville Bench” descriptor fits Vine Cliff’s terraced hillside location above the valley floor precisely.
A CellarTracker community member specifically noted “Vine Cliff” in their tasting note for this lot, providing direct community corroboration. Cam’s narrative of receiving 100% Cab Franc as a main blending component — presumably the base for Vine Cliff’s Cab Franc program before their final blend additions — is consistent with a boutique estate operation where surplus barrel lots become available to négociants.
✅ Confidence: High — CellarTracker community identification, eastside Oakville volcanic bench location, estate Cab Franc program at $100+, and small production all align.
Drink Window
Early: 2026 — 45% new oak and just-bottled needs integration time.
Peak: 2028–2035. Oakville Cab Franc at this quality tier peaks 5–10 years from vintage.
Hold: 2038. The structure and 14.5% alc give this solid aging potential.
My Call: ⏳ Drink window: 2026–2038 (peak 2028–2035)