Mason Vineyard The Landed Cabernet Franc 2022

Winemakers Notes

The Cabernet Franc was about as hassle-free as it could be in 2022. We picked early November, destemmed, no crushing, and straight to tank, whole berry. It had a brief cold soak and then we fired up the heating jackets and the ferment took off.

We left it on skins for a total of 25 days and then pressed it off to barrel (this happens right before Christmas). I generally don’t taste much once it first goes to barrel to give it some time to settle for a few months. It is still so young and sort of in an awkward stage. This vintage is a return stylistically to some of my previous vintages and I feel is a pure example of Bench Cabernet Franc.

 Deep ruby in the glass with a hint of garnet showing at the rim. The generous nose bounces back and forth from sweet to savoury with alluring aromas of strawberry, wild cherry, rose petal, leather, dried cranberry, sandalwood, baking spice, wood smoke, black pepper, pencil lead and bay leaf.

Fresh and taut on the palate with a firm spine of acidity keeping things nicely focused. Medium bodied with a heart of ripe fruit supported by luxuriously silky tannins. Absolutely gorgeous texture from start to finish.

This is true-to-form to earlier incarnations of Cabernet Franc that Mason has produced. No over the top, jammy fruit or over-extracted tannin here. This wine is defined by its svelte and elegant build, captivating character and bewitchingly perfumed aromatics. There is a nice frame of stoney minerality supporting the fruit on the exceptionally long finish.