2023 Kobayashi, Cabernet Franc

Kobayashi, under winemaker Travis Allen, approaches Cabernet Franc cultivation with a precise, minimal-intervention philosophy focused on expressing unadulterated varietal character. Sourced from high-elevation sites within Washington's Columbia Valley, including the windblown loess of Blue Mountain and sandy loam parcels of Red Willow vineyards, this wine is deeply rooted in diverse regional terroir. The 2023 growing season, marked by a cool spring, a warm summer, and a crucial moderate autumn, provided extended hang time for optimal phenolic development at retained acidity. This yielded a Cabernet Franc structured with integrated tannins and a balanced textural weight, underscored by a vibrant freshness inherent to the vintage's equilibrium. Aged judiciously in foudre, neutral oak, and select Mizunara barrels, the wine emphasizes its inherent savory and herbal dimensions, rather than overt oak influence.