Cadence Bel Canto 2022

Winemaker Ben Smith really likes Cabernet Franc, and the 2022 Bel Canto shows his deftness with the grape, where he’s blending 92% Cabernet Franc (upping it from 89% in the 2021) with 8% Merlot from Cara Mia Vineyard. Herbaceous, textured, and full of tension, it evokes Pomerol at its best, with an Old World soul of lovely refinement and a bite of tannin and tobacco on the back of the palate. This is elegance squared. It’s one to age and enjoy 2028-2040.