Snowy Peaks Winery, Grand Valley (Colorado) Cabernet Franc 2022 ($28)

The Grand Valley of Colorado lies in the western side of the state, near the city of Grand Junction. Colorado offers great viticultural challenges. The dry climate requires irrigation, winters can be brutally cold, and hailstorms can punctuate the summers. The area around Palisade, Colorado benefits from winds that keep the coldest air at bay and has a long history of peach, cherry, and apple production. Wine grapes are a relatively new addition to the agricultural mix. The four thousand-plus-foot elevation and dry climate gives the cool nights that grapevines need for flavor development. The Cabernet Franc grapes for the Snowy Peaks bottling have found a fine site near Palisade. The 2022 Cabernet Franc offers a deliciously ripe and round style. The bouquet shows black cherry, red cherry and raspberry fruits with hints of green herbs, cocoa and black pepper. The red cherry and raspberry fruit flavors are enhanced by the cocoa-like richness as well as savory herbal tones and subtle oak. It’s a delicious rendition of Cabernet Franc.
92 Wayne Belding