Well folks, it's been a long time coming, but at long last, we are thrilled to present the 2019 Patton Valley Vineyard "Ancona's Cuvee" Hedges Vineyard Cabernet Franc!

As you'll see in this week's special episode of Life In A Bottle, Mitch, Codey, and I were joined by Patton Valley Vineyard's Mike Willison, who gave us a glimpse into the passion that went into this incredible wine, and how jazzed we are to finally get our hands on it!

CLICK HERE for LIB S3E17!

Our part in this adventure began last summer, when Mike reached out to Mitch about collaborating on a project that the folks at Patton Valley Vineyard had been working on. 

We've worked very closely with Mike over the past few years. He's led tasting events at the Ancona's Annex, and is always willing to share his knowledge and experience. 

When he told us it was a chance to get in on something pretty special, we didn't know exactly how special it would be.

A few weeks later, a bottle with a blue masking tape label appeared in the shop, and the rest was history. 

The story of the wine, however, begins much earlier. 

Mike and winemaker Derek Einberger had been on the hunt for fruit to make a slightly bigger "house red" for visitors to their tasting room who might be in search of a wine with a bit more meat on its bones than their flagship Pinot Noirs.

Eventually a handshake deal was struck between Mike and Christophe Hedges, the GM of Hedges Family Estate vineyards, for a lot of their pristine Cabernet Franc, biodynamically farmed in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington's Columbia Valley.

Known for their remarkable Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bordeaux-style blends, the Hedges Family Estate was the perfect source for the soulful, structured wine that Patton Valley was looking for.

Immediately after the harvest, the grapes made the short trip from the Hedges estate to the winery at Patton Valley, where things got even more interesting. 

Winemaking began with a 10 day carbonic maceration, concentrating the dark berry and rich earthy flavors and deep, inky color.

Native yeasts then began their work of slow and steady alcoholic fermentation, followed by an extended soak on the skins to allow ideal extraction of tannin and aroma.

From there, the wine was racked into 5 barrels. 1 new French oak barrel, 1 once-used, and 3 more neutral barrels, where it spent a solid 12 months on the lees waiting for its time to shine.

Unfortunately, during those 12 months, the COVID 19 pandemic shuttered public venues across the country, including Patton Valley Vineyard's tasting room, and this incredible wine intended for tasting room pours was put on hold.

Fortunately for us, Mike was aware that we're always trying to find one-off projects that tell a unique story, so when he reached out about the wine, we leapt at the chance to further our Ancona's-only lineup with a wine that tells a story of passion, sustainability, and friendship.

So, what's in the bottle?

- Biodynamically farmed 100% Cabernet Franc,
- Carbonic maceration, then fermentation by native yeasts
- 1 year in oak: 20% new, 20% 2nd fill, 60% neutral
- Bottled for and available exlusively at Ancona's (Shoutout to Alex Ancona for the beautiful label art!)

My Notes Read: "Right out of the bottle, the deep color and bright aromas draw you in. Juicy dark cherry, red and black currants, and blackberry are delicately complimented by toasted cinnamon and clove. The fruit continues on the palate, both ripe and fresh, with sultry, velvety body that finishes long with leathery tannins and earthy spice. A wine that bridges the gap for fans of everything from Cali Cabs to Beaujolais, this stuff is the ultimate crowd pleaser, and the perfect companion for any occasion, from backyard barbecue to Thanksgiving dinner."

-Kyle Martinez, Wine Specialist