Napa Valley Cab Franc
2018 Palazzo Wines Cabernet Franc Reserve – An Excellent Treat!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Scott Palazzo has entered the International Cabernet Franc Competition for several years. Over the years he has won consistently Gold and Double Gold for his Cabernet Franc. The most current competition he did not enter due to previous smoke damage to the vineyards. We enjoyed last evening his 2018 and it was a treat to taste this exquisite wine.
The Winery
Picture from Palazzo website
Scott Palazzo’s background is both unique and fascinating how he ended up being a winemaker. Scott grew up in an Italian family which influenced both his understanding of wine as an everyday event as well as with food and celebrations. At age 19, Scott set out with his guitar on his back and ended up in Europe. There he ended up in Saint Émilion (on the Right Bank of Bordeaux’s Gironde River). This became his wine paramount experience shaping his palate for years to come and the foundation for Palazzo Wine some 20+ years later. In 2003, after establishing a career as a television director/producer (nominated Grammy for Music Video & Television Director/Producer), he began searching for a similar terroir that he enjoyed while living in Saint Émilion.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Key to his success was his charismatic and energetic personality! Scott combined his experience with Old World wine in the cellar with New World fruit from lower Napa Valley rolling hills. Today his wines are featured by some of the world’s most famous wine restaurants. A small partial listing is French Laundry, Gary Danko, Michael Mina, Per, Daniel, Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, Spago, Bouchon, Mastro’s Steakhouse, Emeril’s, Valintino’s, etc. The full list of restaurants can be found on his website, suffice to say, in any major city, find a prestigious restaurant and you will find Palazzo Wine!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Today Scott’s portfolio of wines includes his Master Blend Series (Left Bank Cuvee, Chardonnay, Rosé) and Reserve Wine Series (Cuvee Blanc, Right Bank Blend, Cabernet Franc).
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Scott started making his Cabernet Franc exclusively for The French Laundry in Yountville. This catapulted his wine instantly to “cult status”. This story is on his 2018 vintage of Cabernet Franc. On the eyes, this is a very deep red color with medium-heavy viscosity. What wafts into the nose is a symphony of aromas from floral notes of crushed violets to red fruits like cherries and raspberries. Once entering the mouth all the individual parts burst into a taste profile like the 1812 Overture music with triumphant notes. Red and black cherries, subtle spices like pepper are counterbalanced with hints of dark chocolate and ripe plum. On the finish only a hint of pyrazines (herbal notes), this wine is vibrant, yet silky smooth beckoning one to take another sip. Structured and defined layers with silky smooth tannins and yet with defined edges are present. One of the smoothest finishes on a world class Cabernet Franc I have tasted.
This wine is 14.1% alcohol and 2018 was rated 94 points by Jeb Dunnuck and won the Sommeliers Choice Awards Gold Medal in 2022. It spent 14 months in 30% new French oak and 70% neutral French oak.
The current release is 2016 Cabernet Franc and is priced around $115 and rated 96 points by Wine Advocate. It received from the American Wine Society Wine Competition a Gold Medal and “Best Cabernet Franc” and from the International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition a Double Gold Medal.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly