2015 Caladan Cabernet Franc
Producer: Caladan
Region: Napa Valley, CA
Country: USA
Grapes: 76.5% Cabernet Franc, 23.5% Merlot
Vintage: 2015
ABV: 14.5%
Vivino: 4.7
Drink By: 2032
Occasional Wine Note: This is an excellent Cab Franc, balanced by a fair bit of Merlot, which likely imparts those beautiful blueberry and floral notes. The fruit here is beautiful, but not overpowering. The balance between fruit, earth, and spice are noteworthy. What a specimen.
Jeb Dunnuck
Critic Score: 97
A relatively new release from this team is the 2015 Cabernet Franc Caladan, which includes just under 20% of Merlot. It has beautiful Cabernet Franc character in its blueberry and black cherry fruits as well as loads of complex forest floor, dried earth, camphor, and chocolate nuances. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and silky, it shows the inherent purity and freshness that’s the hallmark of the vintage, is perfectly balanced, and has the class to evolve gracefully for two decades or more.
Vertdevin
Critic Score: 96
The nose is fruity, elegant, beautifully built and fine. It reveals notes of ripe cassis, juicy/fleshy Boysen berry and small notes of violet associated with small touches of small blue fruits as well as hints of Sichuan pepper, nutmeg and an imperceptible hint of local vegetation. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/acidulous frame, a beautiful definition as well as finesse. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy cassis, small juicy/fleshy blue fruits and small notes of cassis associated with fine touches of chocolate, toasted as well as very discreet hints of caramelization. Tannins are elegant and well-built.