Smooth as silk, give it some air for the nose to open up
Winery notes, Our small cabernet franc vineyard is the most easily viewed block from the terrace of the winery, on a northwest-facing slope along the southern edge of the 29 North Estate. We planted our cabernet franc vines in 2000 and have enjoyed watching and tasting their amazing development year over year.
The nearly textbook conditions of 2012 presented very few challenges starting this almost ideal growing season with a mild spring, healthy bud break, steady flowering and even fruit set. Summer ushered in warm days and cool, frequently foggy, nights; fall had beautiful warm temperatures, with very few heat spikes. The bountiful fruit enjoyed long, slow ripening resulting in highly developed and expressive flavors. Light rainfall arrived after we had harvested optimally ripe fruit. The 2012 vintage is marked by wines of exceptional balance, captivating aromatics and are succulent on the palate. Immensely enjoyable in their youth, these wines are cellar-worthy and will gratify for the long term.
Our 2012 Cabernet Franc is loaded with rich and seductive aromas of cedar, clove, allspice and ripe blackberries. On the palate, creamy vanilla and seductive hints of oak are supported by velvety tannins and a pleasing lift of bright acidity. The balanced, welcoming structure of this wine allows it to be paired with even the most delicate dishes. We love roasted sea scallops or duck with dried cherries. Our Franc is beautifully expressive and approachable with a long and balanced finish to be enjoyed now and for the next 6 to 8 years.
Cases Produced: 296 Retail Price: $140 ~ 750ml — 5 years ago
This needs some serious decanting. Best on the third day when all the finer nuances have been revealed. Black cherries, strawberries, mocha, oak, smoke and a touch of mint. Balanced and smooth. — 7 years ago
Here’s a serious mountain wine that is LOVELY!! 🏔️🏔️
It offers a bouquet of vibrant, high-toned fruit qualities, such as grapefruit, mandarin orange peel, lemon zest, pear, just ripe white peach, and apricot, layered with white blossom, acacia, herbal, crushed stone, wet gravel, cheese rind, and delicate cream notes. 🤩🤩 It’s dry with a firm structure including medium(+) acidity and medium alcohol (13.5%).
It’s the Grosjean Frères, Vigne Rovettaz, Vallée d’Aoste AOC, Petite Arvine (2020).
The Grosjean Frères winery has been owned and operated by the Grosjean family since 1968. Today, it’s the father, his five sons, and their cousins, who collectively treasure their vineyards like precious heirlooms of the earth, meticulously tending to them, while employing certified organic farming practices.
These vineyards are located in the stunning Alpine region of the Vallée d’Aoste AOC in far northwest of Italy (north of Piedmont), sharing a border with both France (to the northwest) and Switzerland (to the northeast).
For context, Mont Blanc (15,780 ft elevation) calls the Vallée d’Aoste its home… please take me there!
Surrounded by this dramatic landscape, you’ll find the Rovettaz Vineyard, where Grosjean Frères grows its Petite Arvine grapes for this complex, textured wine that saw sur lie (with bâtonnage), and partial French oak, aging for 8 months prior to bottling.
Cin cin to this beauty! 🥂🥂 — a year ago
Purchased on sale and was an amazing bargain. Stood up well to a smoked prime rib. — 3 years ago
crushed violets, black pepper, plum, blueberries, and silky tannins — 4 years ago
With Farzad & Pam. Very nice. — 6 years ago
Austin Baird
Deep tobacco and pepper with dark Marionberry notes. Wonderful showing of Mendoza, but gives Pacific Northwest vibes. A great wine for the North American Palate to transition to Argentina style wines 🍷 — a year ago