{"title":"Cabernet Franc","description":"\u003cp\u003eCabernet Franc spent most of its history as a supporting player in Bordeaux blends, adding aromatic lift and a distinctive leafy, capsicum note alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It has since found real success as a variety in its own right, particularly in New Zealand's Hawke's Bay, where the Gimblett Gravels give it enough warmth to ripen fully while keeping its trademark freshness intact. Styles here range from light, juicy, easy-drinking reds through to more structured examples built for a few years in bottle. For the region it's best known in, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hawkes-bay-wine\"\u003eHawke's Bay Wine\u003c\/a\u003e is worth a look, and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/merlot\"\u003eMerlot\u003c\/a\u003e covers its usual blending partner.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"beach-house-hawkes-bay-cabernet-franc","title":"Beach House Hawkes Bay Cabernet Franc 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBeach House Hawke's Bay Cabernet Franc\u003c\/strong\u003e is a dark-fruited, confidently structured red from the Gimblett Gravels, balancing blackcurrant and damson with violet, cedar, dark chocolate and savoury spice. The palate is rich without losing shape, with fine, chalky tannins and a long, persistent finish. Beach House planted its Gimblett Gravels vineyard in the 1990s, and Cabernet Franc is a natural fit for the site's free-draining gravel soils. A smart choice for Cabernet lovers after something a little more aromatic, it will sit beautifully beside rosemary lamb, slow-cooked beef or a well-earned winter dinner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the winery says:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFruit from the Gimblett Gravels was hand-picked on 27 March, then de-stemmed into small open-topped fermenters. The ferments were hand plunged and pumped over to build colour and flavour before pressing to French oak barrels for 10 months. The finished wine shows ruby colour and aromas of damson, violets, dark chocolate, coffee, liquorice and cloves, with a rich, robust palate, firm fruit and oak tannins, dark sweet fruit and a savoury tar note.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the experts say:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSam Kim, Wine Orbit, 95\/100 and 5 Stars (2024)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e“Wonderfully ripe and complex, the wine shows aromas of blackcurrant, thyme, game, and cedar on the nose. The palate is equally appealing, with rich fruit intensity, fine texture, and chalky tannins, making it beautifully structured and harmonious, with a persistent, engaging finish. At its best: now to 2034”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wag\u0026Co","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53182016422255,"sku":"100274","price":197.94,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/2252\/6319\/files\/BeachHouseHawkesBayCabernetFranc.jpg?v=1784863598"},{"product_id":"beach-house-hawkes-bay-merlot-franc","title":"Beach House Hawkes Bay Merlot Franc 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBeach House Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc\u003c\/strong\u003e is a plush, savoury Gimblett Gravels red with dark plum, wild strawberry and cassis layered over thyme, nutmeg, cedar and dried herbs. The palate is juicy and richly textured, with silky fruit, polished tannins and enough structure to carry its generous flavours through a long, dry finish. Hand-picked Merlot and Cabernet Franc were fermented separately before 11 months in French oak, giving the finished blend depth without losing its immediate appeal. This is an inviting new addition to the Beach House range and a natural partner for slow-cooked beef cheeks, grilled lamb or a rich mushroom ragù.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the winery says:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2024 release is the first Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend produced by Beach House. Fruit from the Gimblett Gravels was hand-picked, destemmed and fermented separately in small open-topped vats, with gentle hand plunging and pump-overs used to extract flavour and colour. The wine then spent 11 months in fine French oak. The winery describes dense plum, chocolate and black forest cake flavours across a soft, plush palate with plenty of weight and length. It contains 13.5% alcohol, less than 1 gram per litre of residual sugar, 5.8 grams per litre of total acidity and has a pH of 3.55.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the experts say:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSam Kim, Wine Orbit, 91\/100 (2024 Vintage)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e“Sweetly fruited and inviting with aromas of dark plum, wild strawberry, thyme, and nutmeg on the nose. The palate delivers juicy fruit flavours with silky texture and polished tannins, finishing lingering and pleasingly dry. At its best: now to 2030.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wag\u0026Co","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53182016487791,"sku":"100276","price":137.94,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/2252\/6319\/files\/BeachHouseHawkesBayMerlotFranc.jpg?v=1784863808"},{"product_id":"swift-cabernet-franc","title":"Swift Cabernet Franc 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSwift Cabernet Franc\u003c\/strong\u003e is a bright, expressive Hawke's Bay red with juicy fruit, savoury complexity and an appealing sense of freshness. Organically grown in the Bridge Pā Triangle, it shows the variety's herbaceous character without becoming overly leafy, balancing smoky aromas with crunchy red berries, plum and a mineral edge. Eight months in neutral oak gently softens the wine while allowing its vibrant fruit to remain the focus. Serve it slightly chilled for a lively alternative to heavier reds, particularly alongside grilled lamb, Mediterranean dishes, charcuterie or an easy midweek dinner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the winery says:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe organically grown Cabernet Franc offers smoky and herbaceous aromas, followed by a juicy palate filled with crunchy red fruit, plum and mineral freshness. The grapes were sourced from the Bridge Pā Triangle in Hawke's Bay, hand picked and foot crushed before undergoing natural fermentation. The wine was then matured for eight months in neutral oak to soften its texture without overwhelming the fruit. It contains 12.5% alcohol and can be served slightly chilled or straight from the bottle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blanc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53182020485487,"sku":"100393","price":209.94,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/2252\/6319\/files\/SwiftCabernetFranc.jpg?v=1785205334"}],"url":"https:\/\/stolencellar.co.nz\/collections\/cabernet-franc.oembed","provider":"Stolen Cellar","version":"1.0","type":"link"}