David Breeden's Sheldrake Point Cabernet Francs Sparkle - Literally!

While at the Cab Franc Forward event in early February, I ran into winemaker David Breeden and got a chance to taste two wines from the Sheldrake Point lineup. He had made some of my favorite wines last year, and I was not sure what to expect, this season. It was going to be hard to top. But I was not disappointed. These were two of my favorite wines of the show. An amazing trick to turn two years straight, especially considering that one was an experimental wine. 

David Breeden with co-owner Michele Babich

Sheldrake Point Beta Series Blanc de Cabernet Franc 2023 was absolutely one of the high points of the show! A terrific high-concept wine, that was executed brilliantly. This 100% Estate Cabernet Franc wine came from their CF 3 vineyard block and was harvested in late September. The juice was pressed off of 4.38 tons of fruit. It was inoculated with a Rhone yeast and let to ferment for 19 days. The wine was racked and aged in stainless steel.  The Finger Lakes Cider House then took over, and added 14 g/L sugar and ProElif yeast for bottle fermentation. The bottles were left en tirage from early February of 2024 to September 5th, 2024, at which point they were disgorged and had 15 g/L of sugar added.  They produced 291 cases. It will not be nearly enough - this wine was spectacular.

Beta, or β, the second letter of the Greek alphabet, is considered part of a trial run, which highlights the wild musings of the winemaking team. A series of small lot releases. the winemaking is often considered both a science and an art, and these experimentations push the boundaries. They are sold exclusively from their Tasting Room. Some Beta Series wines are a one-time thing, while others may eventually become part of their classic lineup.

This classically made Blanc de Noir-styled wine started off with a burst of yeast and fresh baked brioche, on the nose, that quickly gave way to fresh green apple, some citrus notes, and a hint of blue slate. The mousse was fabulous on this. Then, on the palate was an explosion of red raspberries, a hint of strawberries, and a wisp of plums, with notes of orange peel, and a lovely, light Pekoe black tea. And a terrific acidity that held up the back end that enabled the fruit to linger elegantly. This was perfectly accomplished. An amazing bottle of wine, and one of the cleverest wines of the entire show. Maybe one of the better wines of the season. Innovative and meticulous. Just what you expect of David Breeden. 

The Sheldrake point Estate Cabernet Franc 2023 was a wine made from 99% estate Cabernet Franc and 1% estate Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was fermented for 29 days. The Cabernet Sauvignon was cold soaked for seven days. The Cab Franc was not. The wines went through malolactic fermentation. And both were made in a combination of neutral barrels, including some large format barrels (225L, 400L, and 500L). The resulting wine was massively impressive. It had a lovely bright garnet color. The nose began with a tremendous flash of fresh cherry, with hints of blueberry, plum, and a touch of bramble. On the palate there was fresh bright and dark cherry, jammy blackberry, and currants (red and black). There were also touches of spice, including black tea and a light cracked pepper at the back. The fruit lingered, and lingered. There was enough fresh fruit here to carry the wine forward, but enough structure and reserve to make this a much more elegant and complex wine that would be perfect to drink now or cellar for the next ten years. A smashing success of a Cabernet Franc!

So you see, both these wines absolutely sparkled!