Muddled dark cherry, green chiles, chocolate covered açaí. Ripe black currant, coffee bean, strawberry preserves. Spiced blackberry, crushed blueberry, and plum violently collide with capers, jalapeño, and bell pepper in an intensely expressive and delightfully rowdy display. Fennel, bay leaf, and dill continue the barrage of engaging herbaceousness aided by green olive, tobacco, and bitter cacao. Impressions of fresh lavender and violet oil emerge to provide a light floral overlay without detracting from the spicy delight. Applewood, cardamom, and nutmeg impart an additional layer to the pleasantly pungent aromatics as notes of top soil and loam complement a mildly earthy edge. Extraordinarily fragrant and flamboyant on the nose yet quite soft and plush on the palate; featuring moderate tannin and acidity within its medium bodied frame. This 2017 Estate Carmel Valley "Family Reserve" Cabernet Franc by Joullian Vineyards & Winery is a wonderfully complex and herbal red from Monterey County.

Located directly southeast of the towns of Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey County's Carmel Valley is uniquely mountainous and semi-coastal winegrowing region that experiences warm summer days paired with exceptionally cool nights. This bottling, crafted by Joullian Vineyards & Winery using Cabernet Franc sourced from their estate vineyards in the Carmel Valley, beautifully showcases the characterful complexity of this region through the lens of an always intriguing grape. While it contains no shortage of ripe and even somewhat extracted fruit this wine is pleasantly dominated by its awesomely wild herbal character and intense spice. It is extraordinarily food friendly, especially for herbaceous or capsicum-rich cuisine line Mexican or Mediterranean, yet still makes for an exciting experience to sip and enjoy on its own. This is an extremely fun and interesting offering from a unique corner of California's central coast.