T. Berkley Wines, Cabernet Franc, 2023

Founded in 2016 by winemaker Taylor Berkley Boydstun, T. Berkley Wines is a boutique Californian project born from a life-altering perspective. After surviving a heart attack at just 30 years old, Taylor shifted focus from working at large-scale estates to launching his own label dedicated to the varietals he felt were undervalued in the region: Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc. Having refined his craft at world-renowned estates like Littorai and Weingut Knoll, Taylor brings a meticulous, cool-climate sensibility to Northern California fruit. The blend is 100% Cabernet Franc, sourced from sustainably and organically farmed vineyards across the North Coast AVA (spanning Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino). The wine is matured for 11 months in a combination of sandstone amphorae and neutral French oak puncheons. The use of sandstone preserves the primary fruit and minerality without the heavy mask of new timber. This wine is beautifully aromatic expression of California Cabernet Franc, the 2023 vintage reveals notes of ripe plum, tarragon, and dried tobacco. The use of sandstone amphorae lends a precise, stony minerality to the palate. Expect energetic layers of redcurrant and graphite, supported by fine-grained tannins and a long, savoury, herb-flecked finish. The wine’s vibrant acidity and herbal undertones make it a superb partner for herb-crusted rack of lamb with roasted root vegetables.