Darioush – Cabernet Franc 2022 (750ml)

Description

Winemaker Notes

Lifted floral aromas of violet and lilac intertwine with fresh raspberry notes to introduce the elegant and seamless 2019 Signature Cabernet Franc. On the palate, Damson plums, sandalwood and bergamot mingle with vivid berry flavors while subtle minerality is reminiscent of a mountain hike though granitic streams and a path through conifers and forest undergrowth. The lush finish echoes raspberry liqueur and plum compote with silky tannins to spare.

Critical Acclaim

JD 93Jeb Dunnuck

Lots of beautiful black fruits, tobacco, chocolate, and floral nuances emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Franc, a medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, layered beauty that brings plenty of classic 2019 fruit and texture while staying balanced. It will deliver the goods for at least 10-12 years or more.

RP 93Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

A bit leafy on the nose, the 2019 Cabernet Franc—sourced mainly from the estate Sage Vineyard on Mount Veeder and augmented by fruit from Spring Mountain and Atlas Peak—adds sage and tobacco notes to black cherries and cassis buttressed by a hint of cedary oak. Full-bodied, concentrated and velvety on the palate, this is maybe just a touch warm but pretty darn nice, finishing plush and long, with softly dusty tannins and attractive anise shadings.

JS 91James SucklingAromas of blackcurrant, black licorice, toasted sage and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied with polished tannins. Dark-fruited with pleasant herbal and spicy complexity. Slightly dry finish. Best after 2023.CG 90Connoisseurs’ Guide

Consistently holding to themes of black cherries and dried plums sweetened with a well-measured dollop of oak and showing touches of background dried herbs, Darioush’s latest is a fairly weighty, fully ripened Cabernet Franc of admirable richness and depth, but it is also a young, moderately tannic wine that, despite its initial sense of suppleness, shows the structural firmness of one that very much argues for additional time. It is sure to find the polish it now lacks with another three or four years on the cork, and another full decade of positive growth looks to lie well within its reach.