Crocker & Starr, Cabernet Franc Blend, Napa Valley, California, 2019

Overview of the Wine
"The Crocker & Starr name reflects the unique partnership between Charlie and Pam and the key components that each one brings to the table to achieve great wine: great grapes and great talent. In 1997, Charlie Crocker and Pam Starr established Crocker & Starr with a common goal of resurrecting the historic Crocker Vineyard Estate and creating world-class wines from its extraordinary terroir.

Approaching their 24th harvest together, Charlie (the grapes) and Pam (the talent) are equal partners and co-owners of Crocker & Starr. The winery has been blessed with a strong heritage of credibility that represents a winemaking history of excellence from vine to bottle.

Charlie Crocker and Pam Starr’s partnership flags the resurrection of an 1870′s winery in the small town of St. Helena. Read more of our history here.

Our philosophy at Crocker & Starr is to capture the greatness of the Crocker Vineyard in powerful and balanced wines without compromise. We strive to set the bar for St Helena Appellation Cabernets as a First Growth Bordeaux Chateau would."

Grape / Blend
68% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec

Origin
Napa Valley, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Deep ruby in color, this wine displays a gorgeous nose of dark ripe plum, cocoa powder, hot tamale candy, and sandalwood spice. Silky friendly tannins and medium body elegantly frame the fruit on the palate which lingers through the wine’s lengthy and seamless finish. This blend of Cabernet Franc is drinking beautifully now and will cellar well over the next ten years.

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The deep ruby/purple-hued 2019 A.V.A. Red Blend of Cabernet Franc checks in as 68% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec. It’s a ripe, medium to full-bodied, incredibly silky expression of this variety and has lots of darker, almost black fruits (currants, blackberries) as well as perfumed notes of spring flowers, tobacco, graphite, and earth. Aged 22 months in 60% new French oak, it’s balanced, has polished tannins, and a great finish. Drink bottles any time over the coming 15 years or more.

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
This rich, saturated, chocolaty blend of Bordeaux grape varieties led by 68% Cabernet Franc is supersmooth in texture despite fine-grained tannins that add some structure and balance. Aromas of blueberry, dark chocolate and vanilla lead to very ripe black fruit flavors accented by coffee beans and mint.

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 A.V.A. Napa Valley Blend of Cabernet Franc is composed of 68% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. Deep garnet-purple colored, it slips easily out of the glass with crushed redcurrants, kirsch and blackberry preserves with hints of bouquet garni and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy, it has a lively backbone and plenty of red and black fruit flavor layers, finishing with an herbal lift. 

Product size: 750ml