Cosentino Winery Reserve Cabernet Franc 2022
Red Wine. This is a full-bodied, dry red wine crafted in the classic Napa Valley style which blends varietal herbal complexity with ripe New World fruit and significant oak influence. · Cosentino Winery. Established in 1980 by Mitch Cosentino, this winery is known as a pioneer in the Napa Valley, famously creating 'The Poet' in 1986—one of America's first licensed 'Meritage' Bordeaux-style blends. Today, it is part of the Vintage Wine Estates portfolio and maintains a reputation for producing high-quality, approachable Napa Valley wines with a focus on Bordeaux varieties.
Vintage: 2022. The 2022 vintage in Napa Valley was characterized by a dry winter, a mild spring, and a notable late-season heatwave in September. This heat surge accelerated ripening, resulting in wines with high fruit concentration and plush textures, though careful canopy management and harvest timing were critical to maintaining balance.
Type
Red Wine. This is a full-bodied, dry red wine crafted in the classic Napa Valley style which blends varietal herbal complexity with ripe New World fruit and significant oak influence.
Producer
Cosentino Winery. Established in 1980 by Mitch Cosentino, this winery is known as a pioneer in the Napa Valley, famously creating 'The Poet' in 1986—one of America's first licensed 'Meritage' Bordeaux-style blends. Today, it is part of the Vintage Wine Estates portfolio and maintains a reputation for producing high-quality, approachable Napa Valley wines with a focus on Bordeaux varieties.
Country
United States. California represents the heart of the American wine industry, following a 'New World' philosophy that emphasizes ripe fruit, sophisticated oak integration, and technological precision while increasingly respecting specific site expression or terroir.
Vintage
2022. The 2022 vintage in Napa Valley was characterized by a dry winter, a mild spring, and a notable late-season heatwave in September. This heat surge accelerated ripening, resulting in wines with high fruit concentration and plush textures, though careful canopy management and harvest timing were critical to maintaining balance.
Region & Appellation
Napa Valley AVA, California. As one of the world's most prestigious wine regions, Napa Valley is renowned for its high-quality Cabernet grapes. While Cabernet Sauvignon dominates, the valley's diverse microclimates provide ideal conditions for world-class Cabernet Franc, particularly in the cooler benchlands and volcanic hillsides.
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Franc. Known for being one of the parent grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc in Napa Valley typically exhibits more black fruit and plushness than its Loire Valley counterparts, while retaining its signature notes of violet, sage, and bell pepper.
Color & Appearance
Deep ruby with a vibrant purple rim. The wine shows medium-plus intensity with clear clarity and significant viscosity (tears), indicating moderate-to-high alcohol and high extract levels typical of a Napa Reserve bottling.
Aroma Profile
The nose is intense and expressive, leading with primary aromas of black cherry, plum, and dried herbs like sage or tobacco leaf. Secondary notes include vanilla, cedar, and toasted oak from barrel aging, with subtle tertiary hints of pencil shavings and cocoa powder.
Tasting Notes
The palate is rich and expansive, opening with layers of dark berry fruit. The mid-palate introduces savory complexities of dried herbs and dark chocolate. The finish is long and warming, balanced by rounded tannins and a persistent cocoa-dusted fruit character.
Flavor Profile
Dominant flavors of ripe blackberry, black cherry, and red currant are layered with complex notes of ancho chili, dried sage, cedar, and a touch of espresso. The fruit is ripe but retains the characteristic herbaceous 'savory' edge of Cabernet Franc.
Body & Texture
Full-bodied with a velvety, mouth-coating texture. The wine possesses high concentration and a generous weight that fills the palate without feeling overly heavy, balanced by a polished mouthfeel.
Acidity & Tannins
Medium-plus acidity provides necessary lift to the ripe fruit. The tannins are medium-high in quantity but 'Reserve' in quality—fine-grained, supple, and well-integrated into the wine's structure rather than being overly aggressive or drying.
Sweetness Level
Dry. While the wine has a perception of 'sweet' ripe fruit (fruit saccharinity), the residual sugar is very low, typically under 2 g/L.
Alcohol Content
Approximately 14.5% - 15.0%. This level is standard for Napa Valley reds of this vintage, providing body and a distinct warmth on the finish.
Aging & Oak
Aged for roughly 16 to 20 months in French oak barrels (a significant portion being new oak). This regimen imparts structural stability and flavors of baking spices, toast, and vanilla that complement the natural pyrazines of the grape.
Food Pairings
Excellent with herb-crusted roasted lamb, duck breast with a cherry reduction, or grilled portobello mushrooms. The wine’s herbal notes and structure also pair beautifully with aged Gouda or Manchego cheese.
Serving Suggestions
Serve at 60-65°F (16-18°C) in a large Bordeaux-style glass. Decanting for 45 to 60 minutes is recommended to allow the aromatic profile to fully open and the tannins to soften.
Price Range
$50 - $80. This sits in the premium 'Reserve' category, offering a more concentrated and oak-influenced profile than entry-level Napa reds.
Quality Assessment
89-91 points. A high-quality, dependable representation of Napa Cabernet Franc. It ranks as a 'Premium' tier wine characterized by vintage consistency and professional polish.
Production Methods
Hand-harvested grapes are de-stemmed and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. This is followed by a period of extended maceration to extract color and tannin before being transferred to French oak for malolactic fermentation and maturation.
Terroir
Sourced from select vineyards across the Napa Valley floor and foothills. The soil is a mix of alluvial fans and volcanic rock which contributes to the wine's mineral undertones and concentrated fruit profile.
History & Heritage
Cosentino is a name inextricably linked to the 'Meritage' movement in California. Founded by Mitch Cosentino, the winery helped legitimize the blending of Bordeaux varieties in the US, moving away from purely single-varietal labeling to focus on the 'art of the blend'.
Interesting Facts
Mitch Cosentino, the founder, was a self-taught winemaker who became one of the most decorated vintners in the US. The 'Reserve' designation on this label indicates a selection of the best lots from the vintage.
Cellaring Potential
Excellent. While approachable now due to the ripeness of the 2022 vintage, it will continue to evolve and gain complexity over the next 7 to 12 years. Its peak drinking window will likely be 2026–2032.
Similar Wines
Darioush Cabernet Franc, Lang & Reed North Coast Cabernet Franc, or Paradigm Cabernet Franc. It offers a profile similar to a high-end Right Bank Bordeaux (Saint-Émilion) but with more sun-drenched fruit character.