Cabernet Franc
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–12 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, portobello mushroom burgers
✨ wine.spec_sheet
While Dominion Tantara is highly celebrated for its elegant Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, their limited-production Cabernet Franc highlights the incredible climatic diversity of Santa Barbara County. Sourced from select warmer microclimates within the region, such as the Santa Ynez Valley, this wine benefit from warm daytime temperatures and cool, marine-influenced nights. This diurnal shift allows the Cabernet Franc grapes to achieve optimal phenolic ripeness while preserving their natural acidity. Crafted using traditional French winemaking techniques, the wine showcases a sophisticated balance of ripe red fruit, signature herbaceous notes of sage and bell pepper, and a refined mineral backbone, reflecting the winery's commitment to site-specific, low-intervention expressions.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1997 by Bill Cates, Dominion Tantara is a distinguished boutique winery located in the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County, California. The winery is dedicated to producing exceptional, site-specific wines, sourcing fruit from some of the Central Coast's most prestigious vineyards, including Bentrock, Dierberg, and La Encantada. Emphasizing traditional French winemaking methods and minimal intervention, Dominion Tantara specializes in elegant, terroir-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. Their acclaimed single-vineyard and reserve bottlings, such as the Cuvee Jeannette and Evelyn Pinot Noirs, are highly regarded for their sophistication, balance, and aging potential.