- Wines
- Lexington Wine Co.
2018 Gist Ranch Estate Cabernet Franc
A mountain structured Cabernet Franc with aromas of red berries, floral, and spiced tones.
Please click the attached Tech Card below to access the video of Winegrower, Nathan Kandler, speaking about the wine.
Vineyard
The vineyard was densely planted in the year 2000 at elevations reaching 2300 feet above sea level, 17 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The heavily fractured, vaqueros sandstone soils and unique mountain micro-climate produce singular, deeply concentrated wines that demonstrate the power and elegance of the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation.
Winemaker Notes
2018 was another dry but not particularly warm winter; this changed in early February. A high-pressure system brought daytime temperatures into the 70’s, warming the soil and initiating bud break at some vineyard sites. In March, a cold front settled in and brought nighttime temperatures down to freezing, risking frost damage to the new shoot growth. These ‘false’ springs have become much more common in recent years. Summer was mild, leading to a marginally later harvest. The concentrated wines are poised and complex with depth and structure.
Technical Data
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Cabernet Franc
Appellation
Santa Cruz Mountains
Vineyard Designation
Gist Ranch Estate
Acid
5.9
pH
3.61
Alcohol %
14
Other Notes
There's a focused line of blackberry to the core of the nose of this bottling, as well as warmer caramel and brown-spice elements, with black peppercorn on the edges. There's intense wood spice to the palate, with cracked pepper and herb lifting the core berry fruit. — 92 points. Matt Kettmann - Wine Enthusiast