2017 Lalalu Contra Costa Cabernet Franc

Region: Contra Costa < California

Grapes: Cabernet Franc

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming; sandy loam soils; fermented in stainless steel and aged in old barrel on lees; bottled unfined/unfiltered with 30ppm added SO2; 12.5%

Winemaker: Laura Brennan Bissell

We love Laura Brennan of Inconnu and Lalalu, both staples in the Rock Juice rotation.  She’s a 2017 SF Chronicle Winemaker to Watch and working mama of three whose babies travel with her as she travels the US slinging her wine. All her wines have an elegance and balance to them, but this glou glou Cab Franc is a favorite. It’s light, bright and crunchy, in a very early fall sort of way, with all of the warmth and joy of the midday sun and the freshness and promise of the late afternoon chill. There is cranberry, violet and the tiniest hit of jalapeño underneath, and of course that spicy tomato-leaf thing that can only be Cab Franc. Herbal and savory like V8 done right!