Detert Family Vineyards East Block Cabernet Franc Oakville 2021

Oakville. To Kalon Vineyard. Mondavi. Beckstoffer. MacDonald. Detert. These are all buzz words for Napa Valley wine aficionados, especially those who worship the famous To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville. But still, not everyone knows the name DETERT. But you absolutely should. Tom Garrett, his brother John, and their cousin Bob are the stewards of the Detert Family Vineyard, a property their grandparents bought in the 1950’s. The prized land is part of three parcels owned by Hamilton Walker Crabb known as the original To Kalon Vineyard purchased in 1868, 1881 and 1891. The Detert Vineyard is home to what are the oldest plantings of Cabernet Franc in the Napa Valley. Their corner of Oakville is flanked by illustrious names like Far Niente, Harlan and Beckstoffer To Kalon, and for decades the family has sold their Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc to their neighbors, the Mondavis, for the Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Franc was so impressive to Bob Mondavi and played such an important role in his iconic blend that in the 1960’s, he paid the Detert’s Cabernet Sauvignon prices for the cherished clusters of Cabernet Franc to ensure he was able to retain the fruit vintage after vintage. In 2000, an historical family event occurred where Tom left his day job as winemaker at Revana to start making wine for the family labeled Detert Family Vineyards. His day job as the winemaker at Revana Family Vineyards helped nurture and hone his skilled, enological acumen, but Tom moved on to work full time with the family project. 

100% Cabernet Franc from the oldest Cabernet Franc vines in Napa Valley. The clonal material comes from a block of Cabernet Franc planted at Detert in 1949 which the family affectionately called the Detert Clone. The ultimate expression of the Detert Vineyard, the 2021 East Block exudes old-vine character with complexity and sophistication. Spectacularly aromatic, showing a range of thyme, grilled herbs, cassis and baking chocolate. Textured, powerful but also elegant and energetic in the mouth. Lush and palate coating, with complex flavors of black cherry, cured meats, black licorice, gunflint and cassis. Great density but also precise, lively and beautifully layered. Finishes with fine grained-tannins and flavors that keep gliding.  Only 200 cases produced!