Description
Star Party Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc 2023
This captivating, low-intervention wine is a unique blend consisting of 98% Cabernet Franc, 1% Saperavi, and 1% Chardonel. Hailing from the 2023 vintage, the fruit is sourced entirely from the Shenandoah Valley AVA in Virginia, where cooler nighttime temperatures and well-draining gravelly clay loam soils allow the grapes to retain brilliant natural acidity while achieving optimal phenolic ripeness. In the glass, the wine displays a vibrant, slightly hazy deep ruby core with a magenta rim, a visual testament to its unfined and unfiltered nature. The nose is highly aromatic and evocative, bursting with primary fruit notes of crushed black cherry and wild raspberry, seamlessly interwoven with secondary aromas of dried thyme, fresh violet, and the signature crushed graphite and subtle bell pepper herbaceousness classic to the varietal. On the palate, this dry, medium-bodied wine offers a lively, energetic texture driven by bright, mouth-watering acidity, fine-grained dusty tannins, and a lingering earthy finish marked by hints of cedar and savory spice. Winemaker Tim Jordan champions sustainable, low-input farming and a minimal-intervention philosophy, utilizing ambient yeast fermentation with 50% whole cluster inclusion, 23 days on the skins, and 10 months of aging in neutral oak barrels. For food pairings, this vibrant wine pairs beautifully with a classic American smashburger topped with caramelized onions, a roasted pork tenderloin with a blackberry reduction, or a charred ribeye steak with chimichurri, as the herbal notes in the sauce perfectly echo the wine's savory aromatics. With a tiny production of just 80 cases, this boutique Virginia wine has not yet been reviewed by major publications like Wine Spectator or the Wine Advocate, but at around $30, it represents an exceptional, highly affordable entry into the vanguard of American natural winemaking.
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