2022 Franc Blanc
$28
Collector's & Founder's Club: $21
Case Club: $22.40
Connoisseur's Club: $23.80
A unique white wine produced using the Cab Franc grape, typically a red wine varietal, through special farming practices and zero skin contact.Sweet grass, lemon peel, cantaloupe and sweet basil. Swirling brings fresh peach, white flowers and subdued notes of pyrazines and fresh herbs. The mouthfeel is mouthwatering, very pure and vibrant, with phenomenal texture and volume. Notes of lemon oil, spearmint, ripe stone fruit and quince dominate the mid palate, and the wine remains fresh, with remarkable structure and beautiful sweetness. This zero-skin-contact Cabernet Franc -- AKA Franc Blanc -- is layered, and evolves constantly in the glass. Very unique and pure, the wine finishes extremely fresh and long, with a touch of grip and a mineral aftertaste. A hedonistic wine that you can drink now or in the next 5 years.
This is a new wine project for Gård that comes from Stoneridge Vineyard, Cabernet Franc block. The goal was to keep big canopies with lots of shade so the clusters don't see too much sunlight, and color concentration remains as low as possible. Fruit was lightly pressed immediately after arrival to the winery, and fermentation was performed very cold and long. Treated almost like a Sauvignon Blanc, this Franc Blanc shows similarities with a light bodied Sauv Blanc, but with a varietal aromatic profile that only Cabernet Franc can provide. You won't find many Franc Blancs around, as it's a difficult wine to make technically, but the end result is worth the effort.
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Varietal | Cabernet Franc |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Cabernet Franc |
| Appellation | Royal Slope AVA |
| Vineyard | Stoneridge Vineyard - Lawrence Vineyards |
| Designation | Lawrence Vineyards |
| Alcohol | 13.80% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Cases Produced | 240 |
| Country of Origin | UNITED STATES |
| State of Origin | Washington |
92pts - Owen Bargreen This is a new wine by Gard. The 2022 Franc Blanc comes from Cabernet Franc vines from the Stoneridge Vineyard. Stored in stainless steel, this offers good richness with cashew nut, pear, and strawberry flavors alongside a soft mouthfeel on the palate. Drink 2023-2029- 92
Gård Vintners is 100% estate grown sustainably at Lawrence Vineyards in the Royal Slope AVA. Lawrence Vineyards features seven distinct vineyard sites with elevations ranging 930 feet to 1,675 feet. The combination of elevation and south-facing slope provides a great framework for grape production, while the diversity of the seven locations delivers a high level of complexity to Gård wines. Lawrence Vineyards is certified sustainable by Vinewise.org.
