Wolffer Estate Caya 2023 and Wolffer Estate Cabernet Franc 2023 - Roman Roth Shines Again

When anyone asks about what are some of the top wine tasting experiences of a life time, I have been fortunate enough to have a good number - tasting with Kevin Zraly and Francis Ford Coppola, discussing wine with Zraly, Matt Kramer, and Oz Clarke in a group, tasting wines with Beau Barrett of Chateau Montelena, the champagne flight and seafood platter from Domaine Chandon back in the day, meeting famed sommelier Larry Stone at Rubicon, attending several Wine Spectator Grand Tastings, and many more. 

I'm forgetting a bunch. But among them was the time Roman Roth's family and friends came to see him, and he invited me to accompany them in a tasting throughout the cellars of Wolffer Estate (I just happened to be there that day - basically I crashed his little reunion - he was very gracious. (I was with Eileen Duffy, whose book BEHIND THE BOTTLE, I had just published). 

It was an eye opening experience. I think we barrel tasted from a dozen-and-a-half barrels. From whites to reds to dessert wines, each sip showed me what was possible on the east coast. They spoke German, I talked to myself (the only German word I can remember is ausfart - because deep down, I am still six years old). Regardless, I had tasted with Roman at last year's Cab Franc Forward event, and his wines were among my favorites. I was interested to see how this vintage would compare.     

At the beginning of January, I attended the Cab Franc Forward event in New York City, where I had a chance to catch up with Roman once again. He suffers fools with great patience. He was pouring two of his wines there, and I could not make up my mind which one was more exciting.

Wolffer Estate Cabernet Franc 2023 was a complex wine made from 82% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Petite Verdot. While a medium bodied red wine, this Cabernet Franc seems to carry extra gravitas, presumably from it's small additions of other grape varieties. I, for one, and definitely a fan! Dark purple in color, the nose is chock a block with dark fruit - cassis, prune, a touch of fig, and spices, with notes of slate and toasted cedar. On the palate it is a stew of cherries, blackberries with a nice bramble to it, lovely notes of spice and white pepper on the finish. An incredible wine with complexity and depth. Elegant and beautiful.

The Wolffer Estate Caya 2023 was a work of art. This Caya was 87% Cabernet Franc and 13% Merlot. A lovely dark garnet, the nose was rich with dark berries, traces of floral notes, and a hint of cedar. This was a jammy wine, with loved stewed red fruits, and notes of prune and fig. There was also a fine minerality there as well. Super approachable, this had notes of Orange Pekoe tea and white pepper on the finish, but with enough acidity that the fruit lingered a long, long time. Layered, complex, well balanced, and absolutely delicious, this was one of my favorite wines of the tasting.  

Roman's wines always impress, but these were exceptional. Roman and his wines shine again.