2022 Kukeri Cabernet Franc, St. Helena, Napa Valley
The grapes for our 2022 Kukeri St. Helena Cabernet Franc are sourced from a small family vineyard located on the western side of St. Helena. The site features gravelly loam soils and benefits from the protection of the Mayacamas Mountains, which provide relief from the intense afternoon sun, allowing the fruit to develop elegance and balance. A touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot adds additional layers of complexity and depth to this exceptional Cabernet Franc.
Tasting Notes
The 2022 Kukeri St. Helena Cabernet Franc opens with expressive aromas of wild berries, boysenberry, tobacco, and earthy spice, with hints of cedar and cocoa adding further complexity. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and well-structured, showcasing concentrated red fruit, balanced acidity, and a long, polished finish. This elegant Napa Valley Cabernet Franc pairs beautifully with grilled and fire-roasted meats.
Winemaking
The grapes were hand-harvested in early October, destemmed, and gently crushed into small fermentation bins. After a 3-day cold soak to enhance color and flavor extraction, the wine underwent 15 days of fermentation with punch-downs three times daily. Following 2 days of extended maceration, the wine was gently pressed and aged for 30 months on fine lees in 80% French oak and 20% American oak barrels, including 40% new French oak.
3x - 2022 Kukeri Cabernet Franc, St. Helena, Napa Valley
Case:
12x - 2022 Kukeri Cabernet Franc, St. Helena, Napa Valley
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $576/case MSRP
About The Winery
Winery: Kukeri Wines
Owners: Petar Kirilov
Location: Sebastopol, CA
Petar Kirilov, founder and winemaker of Kukeri Wines, grew up in Bulgaria and graduated from the prestigious University of Food Technologies with a master’s degree in winemaking. He has worked at Truchard Vineyards, Meadowcroft Wines, and Foyt Wines as a winemaker, and created Kukeri Wines to focus on the production of small-lot quality wines from single vineyards.
Kukeri Wines source grapes from some of the most unusual vineyards in Napa Valley and Sonoma County. “We treat that fruit as gently as possible, producing small lots of quality wines that display the complexity, power, finesse, and specific terroir of Cabernet Sauvignon grown in Mount Veeder, and Pinot Noir from Petaluma Gap, Los Carneros, and Russian River Valley.”
Kukeri refers to a pagan Bulgarian ritual that may date back as far as 8,000 years to the ancient Thracians – and to Dionysus, the god associated with wine, fertility, and rebirth. The festival is replete with mystical symbolism, steeped as it is in a tradition representing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
2022 Kukeri St. Helena Cabernet Franc
3 bottles for $94.99 $31.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $299.99 $25/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
So this is not a winery I’m famiiar with. I looked on CellarTracker, and it appears this is the first year they have produced a Cab Franc.
Their track record on other wines is quite good, almost everything they’ve put their name on over the past decade has a 90+ score on CT. I would say that tells me they are a quality producer, but I don’t know about this particular wine as there are no reviews or scores for it anywhere, it’s basically a one-off.
I like Cab Franc a lot, but I’m full up right now and not sure I can take the plunge. Is there a lab rat report coming?
@daviator Without looking at deets, likely they’ve used this blending their CS in past vintages and may have had enough good juice to bottle as CF, with a dollop of some other approved grapes.
@daviator If you are in Los Angeles, I’ll split it with you…I love Cab Franc, but, like you, not familiar with this brand… and I just went wine shopping the other day… so…
I was delighted to receive a bottle for review from my great friend and master winemaker Petar Kirilov. A product of the oenology program at Bulgaria’s University of Sofia, he became my assistant winemaker in 1999. We share a balanced, Eurocentric aesthetic with restrained oak and alcohol, refined tannins and graceful longevity.
Although we made many Cab Francs for WineSmith, this is the first example I’ve seen under his Kukeri label. The style is no surprise.
Here are my initial notes just upon opening. The cork has almost no stain, indicating quite recent bottling. That means that just as I do, the wine has spent over three years in obviously neutral oak, resulting in a silky, oily tannic structure with no graininess.
The aroma is quite forthcoming, with no reduction or austerity. The varietal fruit is quite dark and complex with considerable profundity. I get elderberry, kalamata olive, cedar and marmite. The 14.5% ABV adds graceful power to the finish.
My colleague Dan Berger has been stumping for Cab Franc to replace Cab Sauv due to its superior ability to withstand climate change, and this wine makes a compelling case. The first five days of 2022 experienced 115oF, yet here we have a wine of integrity and elegance despite those circumstances.
I found it a delightful companion to my rare sliced tri-tip. For those of you on the East Coast who have never heard of this cut, it’s a good reason, besides universal health care, to move west.
I’ll get back to you in the morning with a breathing-related progress report, but I have no doubt this stuff will hold up for a week or more.
2022 Kukeri Cabernet Franc, St. Helena, Napa Valley
Tasting Notes
Winemaking
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $576/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Apr 13 - Tuesday, Apr 14
2022 Kukeri St. Helena Cabernet Franc
3 bottles for $94.99 $31.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $299.99 $25/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
So this is not a winery I’m famiiar with. I looked on CellarTracker, and it appears this is the first year they have produced a Cab Franc.
Their track record on other wines is quite good, almost everything they’ve put their name on over the past decade has a 90+ score on CT. I would say that tells me they are a quality producer, but I don’t know about this particular wine as there are no reviews or scores for it anywhere, it’s basically a one-off.
I like Cab Franc a lot, but I’m full up right now and not sure I can take the plunge. Is there a lab rat report coming?
@daviator Without looking at deets, likely they’ve used this blending their CS in past vintages and may have had enough good juice to bottle as CF, with a dollop of some other approved grapes.
Looking forward to the Rats
@daviator If you are in Los Angeles, I’ll split it with you…I love Cab Franc, but, like you, not familiar with this brand… and I just went wine shopping the other day… so…
I was delighted to receive a bottle for review from my great friend and master winemaker Petar Kirilov. A product of the oenology program at Bulgaria’s University of Sofia, he became my assistant winemaker in 1999. We share a balanced, Eurocentric aesthetic with restrained oak and alcohol, refined tannins and graceful longevity.
Although we made many Cab Francs for WineSmith, this is the first example I’ve seen under his Kukeri label. The style is no surprise.
Here are my initial notes just upon opening. The cork has almost no stain, indicating quite recent bottling. That means that just as I do, the wine has spent over three years in obviously neutral oak, resulting in a silky, oily tannic structure with no graininess.
The aroma is quite forthcoming, with no reduction or austerity. The varietal fruit is quite dark and complex with considerable profundity. I get elderberry, kalamata olive, cedar and marmite. The 14.5% ABV adds graceful power to the finish.
My colleague Dan Berger has been stumping for Cab Franc to replace Cab Sauv due to its superior ability to withstand climate change, and this wine makes a compelling case. The first five days of 2022 experienced 115oF, yet here we have a wine of integrity and elegance despite those circumstances.
I found it a delightful companion to my rare sliced tri-tip. For those of you on the East Coast who have never heard of this cut, it’s a good reason, besides universal health care, to move west.
I’ll get back to you in the morning with a breathing-related progress report, but I have no doubt this stuff will hold up for a week or more.