Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Gibbs – Cabernet Franc 2022
St. Helena AVA, Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
From the family-run Gibbs Vineyards in St. Helena, this Cabernet Franc highlights the elegance and spice of one of Bordeaux’s most beloved blending grapes—here shown in its varietal purity. Napa Cab Franc often surprises with more refinement and lifted aromatics compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, and Gibbs delivers a small-lot, estate-grown expression that captures both vibrancy and depth.

📌 Educational Note: While Cab Franc is often overshadowed by Cab Sauv in Napa, it thrives in warmer pockets of St. Helena, developing riper fruit while retaining its hallmark herbal and floral lift.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright red currant, blackberry, and plum mix with violet, dried herbs, and subtle graphite. Hints of green peppercorn, spice, and cocoa powder add a savory complexity.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with supple tannins, fresh acidity, and an elegant structure. The finish is long and precise, leaving echoes of red fruit, spice, and minerality.

Winemaking Notes
Estate fruit, carefully hand-sorted, fermented in small lots, and aged in French oak (about 25% new). The use of moderate oak keeps the wine’s floral, spicy character intact.

Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with roast chicken, grilled lamb chops, or mushroom risotto. Goat cheese and herbed dishes (like rosemary pork or thyme-roasted vegetables) also highlight its savory side.

Verdict
A graceful, terroir-driven Cab Franc that proves Gibbs can coax both power and finesse from St. Helena soils. Balanced, fragrant, and polished—it’s a Cabernet Franc lovers’ gem in Napa. Cheers!
— 10 months ago

Matt Sterr

9.0

Good value. Single Vineyard. Napa. — 7 years ago

George Booth

9.3

A beautiful well balanced Pinot Noir with an aftertaste of cherry and rhubarb giving it that acidic bite to cut through the food. Just a superb Pinot.
Had this at a wine tasting at Prime Butcher in Hampstead NH.
— 8 years ago

John Kanellopoulos

9.0

Excellent American red solid rich full body robust this is the best money for value in while! — 10 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Closing wine for a great Post HdR dinner with Bill Gibbs and friends at Heart Stone/G2 Vineyards. Darker than expected, but still a great dessert wine. — 10 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.2

This was excellent, but the 2007 Reynard on Friday tells me this will be even better in 5 years. Post HdR dinner with Bill Gibbs and friends at Heart Stone/G2 Vineyards — 10 years ago

Michael Faddis

9.3

It’s a chardonnay! — 3 years ago

Dan skoda

9.0

Doesn’t say ranches on the 2017 I’m drinking — 6 years ago

Heather McCann

9.2

Bought at The Butchery in Newport Beach. Delicious. Peppery, earthy Cabernet. Def buy again if findable. — 6 years ago

Maggie Arko

9.0

In Pitt for Gibbs graduation — 7 years ago

Jeff Murray

9.2

Yo G. Apparently the name was inspired by the Big Lebowski, which is a great movie, and the wine is really good in its own right. Condolences on Indians but they had an awesome run. Hope allis well with Gibbs clan — 10 years ago

Elizabeth Flynn

9.0

Drank the 2012 on May 4 2016. Wonderful chocolate and mocha with black cherry. Thought it had a higher alcohol content than the 13.9 so we were pleasantly surprised. — 10 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.0

Post HdR dinner with Bill Gibbs and friends at Heart Stone/G2 Vineyards — 10 years ago

Ted

9.2

Velvety rich fruit. A little bit of chocolate and incense. — 3 years ago

with Jeni

Larry Tran

9.0

Very good Cab! Earthy and smoky — 6 years ago

Emily Biskup

9.3

Gibbs Jubba this is for my mama. This wine makes me want to scream in happiness. Delicious . And the value. Wowzers — 7 years ago

Willie Carter

9.1

Dark dark wine. Soft spices, vanilla, and herbs on the nose. This really needed some time for the palate to come alive but when it did she showed what she's working with. Black pepper, blackberries, mushrooms, and just the hint of green olives team up to knock this out of the park. Really nice mouthfeel with dry, dry tannins. You won't even notice the almost inexplicable 15.7 until the end. Very impressive from St. Helena. — 10 years ago

Buddy Wilson

9.9

Aromas of vanilla, nutmeg in a delicious honey, pear and melon body. — 10 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Decanted for an hour and got better over another three. Post HdR dinner with Bill Gibbs and friends at Heart Stone/G2 Vineyards — 10 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Not as good as @Ron Hromoko 's bottle on Friday night, but the view makes up for the 2 pt difference. Post HdR dinner with Bill Gibbs and friends at Heart Stone/G2 Vineyards — 10 years ago