2022 Linden Vineyards Cabernet Franc
STYLE
The berry crisp freshness of this vintage was inspirational enough to bottle Linden’s first varietal Cabernet Franc since 2010. This Cabernet Franc has the herbal, earthy notes that remind you of fall and a freshness that works with summer.
FOOD PAIRINGS
Cabernet Franc is very vegetarian friendly. This wine is great with roasted or grilled red peppers. It also shines with grilled chicken and pork.
VINEYARD
Hardscrabble Vineyard is on top of the Blue Ridge at 1,200 to 1,400 feet with an eastern to southern slope. Moderately shallow, well drained rocky, granite soils give depth, structure and length to the Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Franc blocks were planted in 2009, 2017, and 2018. The first year of production of new blocks of Cabernet Franc was 2020.
Cabernet Franc is easy to grow, but difficult to grow well. Cabernet Franc has some quality issues that can only be addressed by proper soil selection and fastidious vineyard management. Cabernet Franc is an extremely vigorous vine. If grown on water retentive soils it grows like a weed. Meticulous “green work” or canopy management can also help mitigate some of the vegetal notes sometimes found in Cabernet Franc wines.
VINTAGE
The weather of vintage 2022 initially challenged winegrowers with climate change influenced inconsistency. However, a key stretch of September sun and low humidity ultimately ripened some impressive grapes.
April bud break was early. Four inches of snow fell just before budbreak. Frost events on April 20 and then again on April 28 were just a degree or two warmer than would damage the tender shoots. “By the skin of our teeth” the crop survived. May was warm and wet encouraging rapid vine development. June flowering occurred under ideal conditions resulting in very large clusters. Frequent thunderstorms in mid-summer encouraged vine vigor and a large potential crop that we needed to judiciously thin.
Hail in late July did minor damage to exposed clusters. Fortunately, we had significantly reduced leaf pulling severity just for this reason: the leaves would act as umbrellas to shield the clusters from hailstones.
Veraison was late and in some cases uneven. We started to dry out in late August, but then on and off rains in early September delayed the beginning of harvest. Hardscrabble Cabernet Franc picked on September 28.
WINEMAKING
Sorted and destemmed. Fermented warm with gentle pump-overs early and then punch downs once the cap formed. Pressing took place after 21 days. The wine was aged for 12 months in neutral French oak barrels and then an additional 6 months in tank. 100% Cabernet Franc. Bottled in April 2024. A selection of three barrels: 870 bottles produced. Alcohol 13.5%. Drink 2025 through 2030.
Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2022 Vintage | 2022 Linden Vineyards Claret