Round Pond Pool from above

2023 Proprietary Cabernet Franc

Made only in select vintages with ideal conditions, this wine highlights what Cabernet Franc can do when allowed to shine on its own. It’s both powerful and poised, layered with dark fruit, dried herbs, and fine-grained tannins.

Member Pricing: $79 – $94

We began crafting Cabernet Franc from our estate out of both curiosity and conviction. While this varietal is often used as a blending component, we saw something worth spotlighting. The gravelly soils and microclimate of our Rutherford estate offered the perfect conditions to coax out Cabernet Franc’s signature elegance, savory depth, and aromatic lift.
 
Cabernet Franc has quickly become one of our most anticipated wines, beloved by members who appreciate its nuance and age-worthiness. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, the best wines come from following your instincts—and your soil.

The Proprietary family of wines are comprised of unique blends and varietals sourced entirely from our Rutherford Estate. Crafted with balance and a dedication to expressing our terroir, these wines represent an annual “homage” to the vintage and are made exclusively for members and guests of Round Pond Estate and not available elsewhere.

Accolades

“So suave, velvety and chocolaty, this gorgeous, easy-to-sip red offers lavish devil’s food cake aromas, rich raspberry and cocoa flavors on a bed of gentle tannins. Quite full-bodied on the palate and warm in the finish. Drink now." - 92 points, JamesSuckling.com

“The 2023 Cabernet Franc is another rich, heady wine in this range from Round Pond. Sumptuous dark fruit takes center stage in this opulent, dense offering..the 2023 benefits from a very strong vintage and is a delicious wine..." - 92 points, Vinous, Antonio Galloni

“Mulled plum and boysenberry fruit notes show a slightly exotic bent, while bramble, anise and apple wood accents tumble through on the juicy finish." - 91 points, Wine Spectator, James Molesworth

Tasting Notes

This Cabernet Franc opens with lifted aromas of wild strawberry and pomegranate, laced with dried sage and a hint of dark chocolate. On the palate, fine-grained tannins carry ripe plum and red currant deepened by notes of dried thyme and a touch of minerality on the mid-palate. Structured and expressive, this wine finishes long, with a peppery lift that makes it a perfect accompaniment to your favorite culinary dishes.

Vineyard Notes

The 2023 vintage marked the end of our three-year drought, bringing nearly 30” of rainfall that contributed to the revitalization of our soil profiles and fostering robust canopy growth. The vintage was one of the mildest in the last 10 years which provided a long hangtime, allowing full flavor development leading to very expressive flavors and aromas. As soon as the fruit set after flowering, extensive hand work began in the vineyard opening the canopy to allow for full sun exposure on the fruit. This leads to full, concentrated flavor and ensures the fruit is as expressive as possible. The 2023 vintage will be one for the ages and we feel these wines truly capture the exceptional year.

Winemaker Notes

Handcrafted much the same as our Cabernet Sauvignon to reflect our vineyards' terroir, yet with less new oak to preserve the delicate aromas and allowing them to shine through. While Cabernet Franc has comprised a small part of our vineyard for some time now, we have uncovered the perfect site and the right approach to demonstrate its varietal typicity for it to now stand on its own among our diverse range of red wines. Its evolution in our vineyard has inspired the addition of more Cabernet Franc to our Rutherford Estate to expand our yield and we eagerly anticipate its growth in our portfolio for years to come.

Technical Details

Type:
Red
Varietal:
Cabernet Franc
Region:
California
Appellation:
Rutherford
Vintage:
2023
Case Production:
524