Gibbs
Ranches Cabernet Franc
Napa Valley, California, USA
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!
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!
