Relic, The Prior, Sonoma Mountain, California, 2019

Overview of the Wine
Relic was born in 2001 with the mission to make world-class wines that have ultimate complexity, aromatics, nuance and personality from some of the best sites in Napa Valley and the Sonoma Coast.

Winemaker
Michael Hirby

Grape / Blend
77% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Origin
Sonoma County, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
There’s a reason this is one of our most sought-after red wines, and the ripe 2019 vintage showcases every bit of its incredible fruit and tannin expression. Juicy and elegant, with notes of dried cherry, white pepper and tobacco, it leaves a deliciously deep imprint through a long, savory finish.

93 Points - Wine Advocate
Sourced from the Frediani Vineyard up near Calistoga, Relic's 2019 Cabernet Franc The Prior boasts gentle, herbal hints of sage, marjoram and tobacco against a backdrop of black cherries. It's full-bodied, rich and velvety, with plenty of weight and density, yet there's a feeling of freshness and a dusting of fine-grained tannins on the lingering finish. A blend of 77% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, it spent 20 months in 100% new French barrels yet remarkably doesn't seem oaky at all.

93 Points - James Suckling
Aromas of blackcurrants, dried herbs, leather and wet stone. Full-bodied with velvety tannins. A hint of iodine on the palate. Herbal character colors the black fruit. Well balanced with well-attuned intensity. Best after 2024.

92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Cabernet Franc The Prior is medium to full-bodied and relatively fruit-forward, with a complex bouquet of jammy blueberries, crushed flowers, thyme, and sappy herb nuances. A blend of 77% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, drink this ripe, round, seamless red over the coming 10-12 years.

Product size: 750ml