🏷️ Lot Overview
Region: Oakville District (Napa Valley)
Vintage: 2023
Blend: 86% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Verdot
ChatGPT Original Source Guess: Likely Turnbull Cellars or Groth Vineyards
Wine Berserkers Guess: Vine Cliff
Alcohol: 14.5%
Oak Aging: ~45% new French oak
Cam Price: $11.58 ($139/case)
Retail Estimate: $100+
Drink Window: Late 2025–2037+
🍷 Cameron’s Release Notes
“STUNNING!”
That was my reaction tasting Lot 29 Oakville Cabernet Franc straight off the bottling line last week. This comes from an eastside Oakville Bench vineyard, grown in volcanic soils, and produced as part of a $100+/bottle estate program. Katie was right: this wine is awesome.
We polished this 100% Cab Franc lot with 10% of Lot 15’s Oakville Cabernet and a barrel of high-end Petite Verdot sourced from a Napa “rockstar” winemaker, all grown in the same Oakville alluvial soils. The final wine is terroir-driven, vibrant, and beautifully balanced.
Website Tasting Notes
Deep garnet with an opaque core. Aromas of spicy cherry (think Red Hots) and cassis mingle with graphite, blueberry pie, cedar, and dark chocolate. The palate is fleshy, vibrant, and energetic, with red rock-flecked tannins carrying blue and black fruit in a seamless arc. Vibrant and juicy mid-palate, finishing long with cherry kirsch and blackcurrant.
Voluptuous yet mouthwatering, this wine showcases the hallmark balance and structure of the 2023 vintage. It’s a stunning example of Oakville terroir and Cabernet Franc’s elegance.
Composition:
- 86% Cabernet Franc
- 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 4% Petite Verdot
- ~45% new French oak
- 14.5% alc.
🧠ChatGPT says:
🔍 Source Guess
Turnbull Cellars or Groth Vineyards (most likely).
🧾 Rationale
- Location & Soil: References to eastside Oakville Bench volcanic soils align closely with Turnbull and Groth holdings.
- Style & Scale: Plush, structured Franc with Cab support suggests a winery known for site-driven precision but large enough to sell finished lots.
- Price Tier: $100+ retail aligns with Turnbull’s Black Label or Reserve-tier wines and Groth’s Oakville offerings.
- Blend Construction: Cab Franc with Cab Sauv and Petite Verdot polish is consistent with how these producers craft high-end Bordeaux-style reds.
Alt possibilities: Nickel & Nickel or PlumpJack family vineyards with Cab Franc programs, though their branding makes them less likely to part with finished juice.
⏳ Drink Window
Best Enjoyed: Late 2025–2037+
Style: Vibrant, terroir-driven Cabernet Franc with elegance and precision; enjoyable young after bottle shock but will reward aging.
Hold Potential: Easily 12+ years; expect savory spice and graphite complexity to emerge after 2027.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑🍷 Wine Berserkers Guess: Vine Cliff with Cam custom finishing blend