Technical info
Alcohol
14.9%
Varietal
Cabernet Franc
Blend
95% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
Oak treatment
18 months in 100% French oak (44% new)
Winemaking
Beringer’s reserve vineyards offer fruit of such quality that a minimalist approach to winemaking best preserves the integrity of each site’s terroir expression. Each parcel is vinified separately and monitored carefully from the moment the fruit comes into the winery at harvest. Tailored pump-over techniques are used for optimal extraction, and the wine is aged in select, custom-toasted barrels of French oak. This 2022 Steinhauer Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Franc aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (44% new).
Vintage
The first half of the 2022 harvest started calm and early, with healthy vineyards offering fruit with bright acidity, fruit-forward flavors, and strong yields for white varietals and thin-skinned reds, like Pinot Noir. Then, California experienced a historic heat wave in early September that ramped up the pace of ripening, compelling a fast and furious harvest as winemakers worked to pick fruit at its best quality. Fortunately, strong vines and proactive irrigation helped many vineyards survive the heat. The second half was much more predictable with cooler temperatures through October, so that later-ripening red varieties, such as Cabernet Franc, could develop their full flavor and tannin profile.
Vineyards
In 2003 the former Tre Colline Vineyard was renamed to honor long-time Beringer Viticulturist Bob “Taz” Steinhauer. The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. At an elevation of 1,800 feet, high on Howell Mountain, fruit grown here enjoys the duality of mountain farming. Cooler mountain temperatures often impact the vineyard, bringing great diurnal swings during the growing season. This ranch sits mostly above the fog line in one of Napa’s warmer growing areas, receiving ample sunlight—ideal for late-ripening varietals. The volcanic red soils are low in fertility and yield berries with
intense, concentrated flavors.
