2021 Hourglass Blueline Estate Cabernet Franc | Calistoga, Napa Valley California 750ml

A single acre of a Loire clone Cabernet Franc was originally planted at Blueline in 1991. Upon producing our first vintage from the site we were captivated by the aromatics and in 2012 we budded over an additional acre of vines to a Bordeaux clone of Cabernet Franc. Combined, they yield a scant +/- 200 cases per vintage. With the blocks located at the westernmost point of the estate where the two Blueline streams intersect (and thus have the highest gravel content on the property), Blueline's hallmark minerality finds its apogee in this cuvee.
Blueline's cobbly drainage and western sun exposure ripens Cabernet Franc's greener, herbal tendencies, allowing the variety's classic floral aromatics to shine.
The 2021 Blueline Cab Franc shows heady aromatics of violets, rose oil, and perfumed red and black cassis. On the palate, layers of lush, dark fruit wrap around a firm structural core. Blueline's gravelly soils deliver the signature tension of bright, vibrant minerality, leading to great precision, focus and lift. The structure of interlocking tannin is built to hold its beauty over the long haul. We expect it will become even more alluring as time unfolds. 200 cases produced. | Hourglass