Cabernet Franc Lo-Fi wines, Santa Barbara 2023

Mike Roth & Craig Winchester, Los Alamos

One of the three Cabernet Francs produce every vintage.  The darkest and most savory of them all and from our home vineyard in Los Alamos.

The grapes were carefully hand harvested and grown using only organic methods . We then fermented the grapes using the carbonic maceration technique, with 100% whole clusters being utilized in large sealed oak tanks. To ensure a thorough fermentation, we perform daily pump overs and remove any excess juice. After nearly two weeks, the grapes are pressed and the juice blended back with the previously removed juice and allowed to complete fermentation. It was then racked to barrels and concrete tank the following day. We rely on native yeasts and bacteria for both primary and secondary fermentation, and avoid the use of sulfur during harvest. To stay true to our minimalist (lo-fi) philosophy, we add a total of 30ppm so2, and the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered.

A very fresh style of Cabernet Franc, loaded with black raspberry as well as damp herbs and spicy peppercorns on the nose. There's lively acidity and a very tactile grip to the sip, where elderberry flavors are coated in zesty black pepper, making for a wine that's fun, delicious and classic.

Grape: Cabernet Franc

Biodynamic