2006 Andrew Geoffrey Vineyards Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Franc

Andrew Geoffrey Vineyards is perched on 60 acres of prime land near the top of Diamond Mountain in the Diamond Mountain sub-appellation. With 27 acres of planted vineyards, the estate enjoys one of the most spectacular panoramas in the area. Andrew Geoffrey was founded and is still owned by Peter Thompson, a southern California lawyer who spent several decades dreaming of making wine before he was able to acquire land and retire from law. He bought the undeveloped property in 1995 and planted vineyards in 1997. Thompson combined the first names of his two sons when he named his winery and his debut release was the 2000 vintage. Andrew Geoffrey makes just one wine per year, a Cabernet Sauvignon. John R. Gibson, formerly of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, is winemaker. Rex Geitner is viticulturist and vineyard manager. The wine is made in limited quantities.

Diamond Mountain District AVA is in the Mayacamas Mountains at the northwestern end of Napa Valley. The appellation is relatively high and the entire district is more than 400 feet above sea level. Some vineyards are as high as 2,200 feet above sea level. Because of their altitude, Diamond Mountain vineyards experience warmer days but colder nights than vineyards on the valley floor. Once volcanic soil, the terrain in the appellation has over time become less fertile, making grape growing particularly challenging. Nevertheless the district has attracted wine producers for more than a century. There are 500 vineyard acres out of a total of 5,000 acres. Among the highly regarded wineries here are Lokoya Winery, Diamond Creek Vineyards and Schramsberg Vineyards. Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are generally firmly structured, rich and quite tannic. Chardonnay is full-bodied with apple and peach aromas and firm acidity.

This is a parent grape to Cabernet Sauvignon. It most likely originates from Basque country. It is an excellent blending grape, known for making the exquisite Cheval-Blanc. Franc is a little hardier on a vine than Sauvignon, but drinks smoothly at the table.