Hark Vineyards 2023 Cabernet Franc

Drink (and think) like a somm

PRODUCER

Hark Vineyards

WINE

Cabernet Franc

VINTAGE

REGION

Virginia

APPELLATION

Monticello

VARIETIES

Cabernet Franc

100%

FLAVORS

Ripe Dark Cherry, Raspberry, White Pepper, Anise

MATURATION

10 Months

Concrete 50%

Neutral Oak 50%

ELEVATOR PITCH

Ripe fruit, hints of pepper and savory spices with a firm but approachable structure. This is perfectly representative of Virginia Cab Franc.

STRUCTURE

ACIDITY

TANNIN

ALCOHOL 13.7%

BODY

SWEETNESS

Low

Med -

Medium

Med +

High

ABOUT

Hark Vineyards 2023 Cabernet Franc

The 2023 Cabernet Franc is crafted with fruit from one of the best vintages Virginia has seen in years. The result is deep, rich fruit flavors of dark cherry, crushed raspberry, and a peppery finish held together by a perfectly balanced structure.

The wine was matured in an even mixture of neutral oak and concrete to help soften the mouthfeel, while maintaining its expressive ripe fruit flavors.

PAIRINGS

IN A PINCH

Blue Cheeses, grilled lean meats.

DEEPER DIVE

This 100% Cabernet Franc has the balance and structure to be able to be enjoyed on its own, but is versitile enough to match perfectly with a number of dishes.

The grill is going to be this wine’s best friend, especially with leaner cuts of meat like filet mignon and tenderloin. Its peppery notes are going to match the char and smoke of the grill provided there isn’t a thick, rich sauce added to the dish.

Aged cheeses and blue cheeses are another great option since the earthiness of the cheese will match this wines depth.

STANDOUT FEATURES

Ripe Fruit

Soft Mouthfeel

Balanced Structure

STEAR CLEAR

Anything too rich might start to overpower this wine.

PAIRING SCALE

Light Dishes

Salads

Raw Bar

Med – Dishes

Fatty Fish

Roast Chicken

Med. Dishes

Lean Meats

Rich Poultry

Med + Dishes

Burgers

Fatty Meats

Full Dishes

Stews

Rich Sauces

CHEESE OPTIONS

Stilton

Country: England

Animal: Cow

Type: Strong, funky

Texture: Hard

Style: Full-bodied, tangy

Taleggio

Country: Italy

Animal: Cow

Type: Soft

Texture: Creamy

Style: Mild, sweet, aromatic

Chèvre

Country: France

Animal: Goat

Type: Soft

Texture: Creamy, crumbly

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 “Up to you”?

The flavor complexity in this wine is definitely deep enough to call for some breathing time, but this wine does a pretty good job of showing them off right up front.

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. If you decided to decant, check out the chart below. ↓

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:

20 -

20

Development

Year Opened

PRODUCER

1465 Davis Shop Rd,

Earlysville, VA 22936

ABOUT US

OUR STORY

After several years of searching for just the right spot, the Harks bought the initial 70 acres of open grazing land in 2015. In the years since, the land has been methodically cultivated to maximize the site’s winegrowing potential, create spaces for gatherings as well as quietude, and bring to life the vision that is Hark Vineyards.

The Harks love the outdoors, and in particular the bucolic landscapes of Central Virginia. They see the promise of Virginia wine and appreciate the way each vintage tells the story of its growing season. And they believe each of these are enhanced when enjoyed together with friends and those who are not yet your friends.

OUR WINEMAKER

AJ GREELY

Winemaker

Having spent a decade in the Virginia wine industry, AJ worked with and learned from many great Virginia winemakers and viticulturalists. She’s excited to have found her home here at Hark, where she looks forward to using that knowledge to make excellent wines for a wide variety of palates. AJ is the current president of the Virginia Vineyards Association.

Interested in joining our wine club?

Member Benefits

Three bottles of wine quarterly (December, March, June, September), shipped or picked up at the winery
Winemaker’s notes for each wine in the release
15% discount for all wine and merchandise purchases
Complimentary glass of wine or build-your-own tasting from the current tasting menu, for the member and a spouse/guest on each visit
Advance notice of all wine dinners, with the opportunity to purchase before public sale
Opportunity to place wine orders in advance for all Hark events and skip the line (think: wine will-call!)
Invitation to exclusive club members only events

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Note: All analysis made by actual humans tasting this wine, not A.I.