The wine is from a plot just south of the Home Ranch winery. It is carefully extracted for 23 months in French Sylvain, Taransaud and Darnajou barrels (80% new barrels) to bring out the characteristics of the Cabernet Franc. It has a taste that is typical of Cabernet Franc from cool climates, with "well-mellow tannins, minerality, and a spicy, firm feel." You can feel the graphite-like soil and iron, and spices such as black pepper, tarragon, sage and nutmeg also stand out. Medium to full body.
Origin of the wine name
Owner Lee Hudson says: The Old Master plot is a small plot of about 1 hectare, planted with Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Old Masters are painters, sculptors, architects, goldsmiths, ceramicists, and other artisans who have been respected as craftsmen from the Renaissance to the present day. We named this plot because we hope to be like the Old Masters who have been using their cultivation management and winemaking techniques for the past 40 years.
Technical information
Brewing and aging: The grapes brought in from each plot are strictly selected, destemmed, and fermented separately with natural yeast. Particularly during extraction, great care is taken to avoid over-extraction. Slowly aged for 23 months in French Silvien, Taransaud, and Danadjou barrels (55% new barrels). The wine is racked several times while checking the condition, blended, and further aged. It is then bottled without filtering or artificial fining agents.
Tasting Comments
The taste is typical of Cabernet Franc from cool climates, with "well-rounded tannins, minerality, and a spicy, firm flavor."
It has a purple-garnet color, red berries, dark cherries, cassis and other aromas, as well as a hint of graphite-like soil and iron. Spices such as black pepper, tarragon, sage and nutmeg also stand out. Medium to full-bodied, well-rounded tannins and impeccable balance.
Field Information
Phoenix Subdivision Map
Vineyards: Hudson Vineyards (100% owned vineyards) is divided into two major areas.
Home Ranch (a field including a winery along Route 121)
Henry Road Ranch (A field that spreads across the complex rolling hills to the north)
Old Master is located on the Home Ranch side, south of the winery, and the grapes are harvested from the nearest parcel over several days on cool nights, depending on the degree of ripeness, and then hand-sorted.
Vintage: 2019
Capacity: 750ml
Type: Red wine
Taste: Full-bodied
Main variety: 78% Cabernet Franc
Blend: 18% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of Origin: America
Region Name: California
AVA: Napa Valley
Nested AVAs, Others: Carneros
Vineyard: Hudson Vineyards
Winemaker: Clayton Kirchhoff
Vinification: Natural yeast fermentation
Aging: 23 months in French barrels (Sylvain, Tarançao, Darnajou, 80% new barrels)
Cap: Cork
Alcohol content: 14.9%