Brick Barn Wine Estate, Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Barbara County, California) Cabernet Franc 2017

  From the cool, wind-blown vineyards of Santa Rita Hills on the western side to the warmer climes of Santa Ynez Valley on the eastern side, it’s hard to imagine a more diverse growing region than Santa Barbara County.  It’s perhaps even harder to believe that so many varieties perform so well across that geographic span.  This bottle is a fine example of the eastern side, where warm summers are still tempered by the Pacific Ocean’s influence.  The estate is located on the western edge of the appellation just 10 miles from the ocean, and the diurnal temperature swings prevalent in the area are evident here.  The ringing cherry fruit, soft pepper, gentle oak spice, focused acidity and supple tannic structure are a true delight now.  That said, it’s certainly worthy of five or six years in the cellar.