Drink (and think) like a somm
CrossKeys Vineyards
Cabernet Franc
Virginia
Cabernet Franc
100%
Ripe Cherry, Violets, Plum, Olive.
10 Months
New French Oak
20%
Neutral French Oak
80%
ABOUT
CrossKeys 2024 Cabernet Franc
“The Crosskeys 2024 Cabernet Franc hits a great balance point of power and detail. The nose is perfumed with violets, ripe cherries and plums with traces of olives. The palate is complete, balanced and long. Bright red fruit flows with the fine, robust tannins into a finish laced cedar and subtle hints of earthiness.”
-CrossKeys Vineyards
PAIRINGS
IN A PINCH
Red meats, sharp cheeses.
DEEPER DIVE
This Cabernet Franc is powerful enough to stand up to some fuller-bodied dishes like roasted lamb, stews, and even Indian curry (as long as the spice level is low).
It still has the elegance to be enjoyed on its own, and will be a wonderful option to pair with dishes that might not call for some of the bigger wines in your cellar.
STANDOUT FEATURES: Dark fruit, earthy notes, firm tannins.
PAIRING SCALE
STEER CLEAR
Anything too light or too heavy.
CHEESE OPTIONS
Aged Cheddar
Aged Cheddar
Country: England
Animal: Cow
Type: Hard
Texture: Grainy
Style: Full-bodied, salty, sharp.
Aged Gouda
Aged Gouda
Country: Netherlands
Animal: Cow, Goat, Sheep.
Type: Hard
Texture: Grainy
Style: Nutty, sweet, creamy.
Chèvre
Chèvre
Country: France
Animal: Goat
Type: Soft
Texture: Creamy, crumbly
Rind: Edible
Style: Acidic, salty, tangy
RECIPE IDEAS
SERVICE
WHICH GLASSES?
All-purpose glasses would be best.
BORDEAUX
BURGUNDY
FLUTE
COUPE
ALL-PURPOSE
WHITE
DESSERT
SHOULD I DECANT THIS?
WHY “Couldn’t hurt”?
Most of the fruit flavors show up in this wine right out of the bottle, but it’s complex enough that it will also benefit from some aeration in a decanter.
HOW LONG?
Generally you would want to decant a younger wine for longer to help it open up and be cautious of exposing older wines to oxygen for too long. There are always exceptions of course, but this is a pretty good rule to follow.
Minutes to decant this bottle:
Year opened
SERVING TEMP
The correct serving temperature is important to show a wine’s true potential, but don’t stress over getting the temp exactly right. Use the chart below to try to get in the right ballpark.
AGING
WHEN SHOULD I OPEN THIS?
If a wine has been released by the producer, it means it is ready to drink. Wines don’t necessarily get “better” with age, they just change. Typically, this change involves things like losing fresh fruit flavors in exchange for more savory notes.
The moment you should open the bottle depends on your preference, so it’s more important to understand the evolution and the life span of the bottle than it is to try to time its opening perfectly. (It’s far better to open a bottle too early than too late.)
This bottle should probably be opened between:
2026 – 2031
Development
NERD STUFF
TECHNICAL NOTES
pH: 3.8
TA: 5.5 grams/L
Alc: 14%
RS: 0%
Cases Produced: 273
FERMENTATION
Destemmed whole berries in stainless steel. On skins for 3 weeks.
PRODUCER
ABOUT US
Our Story
When we first laid eyes on the beautiful rolling hills we now call CrossKeys Vineyards, it was nothing more than a thick forest. After crossing the fence which divided the land from the road, we saw the vision of the vineyard come to life. With no roads on the property, we walked through the untouched forest to the top of the first hill. Through the dense trees we could see the immaculate Massanutten Mountain peeking through, dominating the landscape.
A few months after purchasing the land, we had a family picnic to celebrate the wonderful new beginnings with a bottle of Pinot Noir. It was there in that moment the realization of the endless possibilities this land had to offer was planted in our minds. Not too long after, in 2001 the first vines were planted. After many years of hard work, passion, hope, and most importantly perseverance breathed life into our dream; opening the doors to our own vineyard.
In May of 2008, we opened the doors to the tasting room and offered the first vintage of 2006, 100% estate grown Virginia wine from the once forgotten land.
OUR WINEMAKER
Interested in joining our wine club?
Benefits of Key Club Membership
- Quarterly shipments of 3 or 6 bottles of wine in January, April, July and November
- Quarterly pickup parties at the winery
- Two Complimentary bar tastings per visit
- One Complimentary glass of wine per month
- Access to limited and early releases
- 10% discount on wine purchases or 20% off current case vintages
- 10% discount on events
- 35% off cases at Key Club pickup parties
