2019 I. Brand & Family Cabernet Franc, Bayly Ranch, Paicines   

From an approximately 10 year old, 3 acre planting on a 800 foot elevation, 5% south facing sloped bench over the usually dry Tres Pinos Creek and the San Andreas Fault. Soils are rocky alluvial deposits representing the melange of geologic formations around the fault zone. Paicines has a population of approximately 40 people, a general store where the tacos are mostly disappointing, and was at separate times a major growing area for the Almaden Winery and a hideout for the outlaw Tiburcio Vasquez. The area gets some coastal fog off the Monterey Bay via the Pajaro River gap, but days are mostly warm with peak temperatures in the 90s, with cold nights descending into the low 50s during the summer and lower in the fall. This is a great locale for Cabernet Franc to exhibit Loire-like structure overlaid with the bright fruit befitting Califronia sunshine. Picked at moderate sugars and vinified whole berry with a 22 day maceration, aged 11 months in 6 neutral and one once used french oak barrel and another 9 months in bottle before release. 165 cases made.