Cabernet Franc Reserve
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, rosemary-infused pork tenderloin
✨ Technical Specifications
Scheid Vineyards' Cabernet Franc Reserve is a compelling expression of Monterey County's diverse terroir, specifically sourced from their estate vineyards in the warmer southern reaches of the Salinas Valley, such as the Hames Valley AVA. Here, sheltered from the extreme cold winds of the Monterey Bay, the late-ripening Cabernet Franc grape finds the ideal heat accumulation to achieve full phenolic maturity. Historically, Monterey was overlooked for structured Bordeaux varieties, but pioneers like Scheid proved that by utilizing these distinct microclimates, one could craft Cabernet Franc of exceptional depth. This reserve bottling showcases the grape's signature aromatic complexity, balancing rich dark fruit with refined notes of graphite, dried herbs, and subtle spice, all framed by elegant tannins from careful aging in French oak barrels.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1972 by pioneer Al Scheid, Scheid Vineyards began as an ambitious viticultural venture in southern Monterey County, initially supplying fruit to major California wineries before evolving into a vertically integrated estate wine producer. Spanning more than 3,000 acres across a 70-mile expanse of the Salinas Valley—encompassing microclimates across the Monterey, Arroyo Seco, and Hames Valley AVAs—the estate leverages thermal diurnal shifts driven by maritime winds off Monterey Bay. Viticulture balances alluvial gravel, decomposed granite, and clay-loam soils across twelve distinct ranch sites, farmed under SIP Certified and Certified California Sustainable standards, with the winery fully powered by an onsite wind turbine. Winemaking prioritizes varietal clarity, tension, and texture across an eclectic portfolio, celebrated for vibrant Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, aromatic Viognier, racy Dry Riesling, and rare regional white bottlings such as Petit Manseng and Roussanne.
🍇 Grapes
Cabernet Franc