Winery Notes: 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. 

Prima Notes: Not too long ago I had a really fun e-mail exchange with my old friend Pam Starr. We lamented the many pitfalls of owning our respective businesses and engaged in the generally hilarious snarkiness that characterizes all of our exchanges.  The conversation inevitably boiled down, though, to the ever-increasing costs of doing business and how hard it was to create something that has integrity, character and, at the same time, value.  If anyone can manage this delicate equation, though, it’s Pam.  She started her career at the bottom, first as a harvest intern at Sonoma-Cutrer and then moving barrels around at Edna Valley Vineyards before joining Carmenet as an enologist and, eventually, getting her big break at Spottswoode, where she followed in the formidable footprints of Tony Soter. Her stunning success there set the stage for going solo and, in 1997, she established Crocker & Starr with longtime Calistoga grower Charlie Crocker.  Together this outstanding partnership has creatively explored the potential of Pam’s favorite Cabernet Franc in the Napa Valley. Working with it both as a solo variety and in a variety of blends she created a reputation for quality and style for the grape unequaled in the area.  The byproduct of Pam’s search for the perfect Cab Franc was a small side project she called Bridesmaid, a nod, I guess to its essential role as the wine that supports the brides, in this case Crocker& Starr’s far more expensive Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends.  With the 2015 vintage, though, Pam tweaked the blend again and reimagined the packaging of Bridesmaid and, in the process, turned it into one of the best values in top-flight Napa Valley Cabernet Franc you’ll ever find. 

The current vintage, in its sleek purple packaging, is the outrageously delicious 2019. Based 68% on Franc with the rest including Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec this is a distinctly elegant, silky rendition of a Bordeaux Right Bank sort of wine that stays very much true to its Up Valley Napa roots.  Dark in color, its aromatics evoke notes of blackberry pie, violets, mint chocolate, briary spice and tobacco all in a ready-to-pop format that will drink fabulously well with roasts, steaks off the grill or anything else where a nice balance between power and elegance are valued.  While Pam and I will forever struggle with the travails our little businesses, I know that as long as she can create wines like this, I know the value part of the equation will always be in good hands.

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. 93 points

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. 92+ Points