2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lagomarsino Vineyard, Russian River Valley • St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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2018

Cabernet Sauvignon

Lagomarsino Vineyard

Russian River Valley

93 Points | Jeb Dunnuck
91 Points | North Coast Wine Challenge
Best of Class | Sonoma Harvest Fair

Tasting Notes

Leading with a robust nose of dark plum, espresso and cocoa nib, this opulent Cabernet Sauvignon evolves with earthy undertones of sandalwood and leather. A succulent chocolate cordial-like quality greats the front of the palate as waves of boysenberry, licorice, tobacco, and fresh thyme create a full and textured mouthfeel. Soft, yet defined tannins amplify the richest fruit qualities creating a long and elegant finish.

Vintage Notes

2018 provided an ideal climate allowing time for the grapes to ripen to their optimum flavor structure. The year presented a fairly mild growing season with few heat spikes, inspiring winemakers to push harvest back a few weeks. This longer time on the vine was great for grapes and the mild temperatures kept the fruit from over-ripening. More than an inch of rain fell in early October in many locations, but there was little impact on the quality of the fruit. 2018 could be remembered as one of the longest and most desirable seasons in years, producing exceptional quality grapes throughout Sonoma County.

Vineyard Notes

The Cabernet Sauvignon fruit for this lush red wine comes from our Certified Sustainable Estate Lagomarsino Vineyard in Russian River Valley. This scenic vineyard, just south of the town of Healdsburg, ascends into the foothills providing warm, sunny days above the fog line, ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon. The long growing season of Russian River Valley allows full ripeness, but with less aggressive tannins than in warmer regions.

Winemaker Notes

All grapes are gently de-stemmed before cold-soaking for two days to extract optimal color and flavor. the fruit is fermented in separate lots, allowing each lot to be individually and distinctly crafted before being aged in French oak barrels, 42% new. The wine is kept 20 months in barrel before final blending.