Description

Located in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, O'Brien Estate sits on the largest alluvial fan in the Napa Valley. We are toward the western hills of the Mayacamas where we have a 33-acre vineyard of hare loam soil over a heavy clay underlayment—an identical soil structure to that of the Pomerol region of Bordeaux. Our vines are 15 years old, planted in rows that are wide-spaced, allowing the grapes to bask in the sunlight, ensuring deep flavor concentration.

Winemaker David Yorgensen tastes each barrel of wine each month. After 14 months of tasting our 200 French oak barrels, he selected his favorite, which this year was a Cabernet Franc aged in a new Vincent D'Arnajou barrel.

This is a rich Cabernet Franc, with a layered texture and invitingly complex aromas of cassis, currant, and dried cherries. A hint of tobacco provides an enticing smokiness to the nose. While having the overall depth and structure of a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, the Cabernet Franc is refreshingly different, making this one of the favorite wines we have produced in our ten years of winemaking.