23 Rosé of Cab Franc

A very special addition to our rosé program, our 2023 Rosé of Cabernet Franc is an evolution of the prior vintage, and a continuation of our winemaker Melanie's work with barrel-fermentation and barrel-aging her rosé. Our rosé program at Cana began with our Rosé of Merlot, a bright, mineral, and fruit-forward style produced in stainless steel. We expanded with our stainless steel Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon, looking to build a wine with complexity, delicacy, and intrigue.

Melanie is consistently inspired by the rosé wines grown in Provence - the respect shown to the style by the wineries, the complexity of flavors, and the range and experimentation in winemaking that delivers category-leading rosé. She added our Rosé of Cabernet Franc with the goal of creating an elevated and beautifully textured rosé, a step beyond the two rosés already in the tasting room. For our 2022, half of the wine was barrel-fermented and barrel-aged, using French oak puncheons, while the other half was kept in stainless steel tanks. When it came time to blend, the barrel sample had developed so beautifully, and the aromatics and texture were so entrancing, that it was our favorite piece of the blend - and Melanie decided to pursue that wine for our next vintage.

100% Cabernet Franc grown at Bluestone Vineyards in the Shenandoah Valley. This rosé was fermented and aged six months in French oak and Acacia puncheons. Extended lees contact helps develop a beautifully complex and full-charactered bouquet, showing notes of white blossom, gentle citrus, white cherry, soft cream, and flaky pastry. Round red fruit notes rise on the palate, mingling with a lift of bright pink pepper. An expansive, palate-filling style with an everlasting finish.