Cabernet Franc in California
St. Helena, California
Wine Style: New World / Cabernet Franc
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 91 points
Article Written: March 2014
Article Updated: September 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Château or Vineyard Owner:
Charlie Crocker
Winemaker:
Pam Starr
I was introduced to Crocker & Starr Wines through the Napa Wine Company (now Ghost Block), whose focus is to introduce cult, classic, and small vineyards to larger markets. Cabernet Franc, one of the major black grape varieties worldwide, Bourgueil and Chinon, are made from it, producing the Loire Valley's most renowned red wines, and blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, made Bordeaux wines as famous as they are today. To make a wine that is 100% Cab Franc in the style Pam Starr focuses on, with sustainable and organic farming practices, that like Robert Parker says, is amazing. That is Crocker & Starr. Another tasting review here on Wine Dine and Play is Bridesmaid wines also owned by Crocker & Starr which is a Bordeaux-style blend of wines from the Napa Valley, designed for wine lovers and collectors alike.
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| Crocker & Starr / Wine Tasting |
This Crocker & Starr estate has been uninterrupted farmland as far back as the 1870′s and spans over 100 acres of the St. Helena Appellation. Their philosophy is to capture the greatness of the vineyard in powerful and balanced wines without compromise. They strive to set the bar for Cabernets as would a First Growth Bordeaux Château would do. When I had my first tasting of Crocker & Starr, it was the 2008 vintage and then I had the release of the 2011 vintage that can perhaps best be described as a true winemaker’s vintage. Noteworthy conditions of the 2011 growing season include 30% higher rainfall, a cool rainy spring yielding below-average crop, subnormal summer temperatures, and 2” of rain in October.
Cabernet Franc is a thin-skinned red grape that grows particularly well in cooler climates and is originally from the Bordeaux and Loire Valley regions of France. It has been grown with success in both old and new world regions, producing a fruity wine with spicy aromas, which is softer and more subtle than its regal relative, Cabernet Sauvignon. My first introduction to California Cabernet Franc came with the 2008 Crocker & Starr, through a wine club, and since then, I have enjoyed the vintages year after year.
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| Crocker & Starr / Cabernet Franc Vineyards |
Cabernet Franc is known to be lighter than a Cabernet Sauvignon, some describe it as the feminine side of Cabernet, and a bright pale red wine that contributes finesse and lends a peppery perfume to blends with more robust grapes. By itself, the Crocker & Starr is more robust, reminding me of a medium-bodied Cabernet, enabling it to stand up to poultry, lasagna, or Middle Eastern dishes with ease. I would compare the Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc to others that I have tried from around the world, on my travels, like the Raats Family Wines in Stellenbosch, South Africa, which is one of the top producers of Cabernet Franc in that region of the world, or the Coldstream Hills Vineyard from the Yarra Valley, Australia.
Wine and Grape:
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Nose (Bouquet):
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Palate Experience:
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2008 Cabernet Franc
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Winemaker Notes:
92% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec
Gorgeous notes of black currant, blueberries, saddle leather and nutmeg offered in a fragrant, full-bodied, juicy style.
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Winemaker Notes:
This Cabernet Franc is fruit-driven, exotic and complex with deep bluish-purple color, glorious texture and a long finish. A powerful and refined wine that will age beautifully for the next decade.
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2009
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Winemaker Notes:
This beautiful onyx and dark plum-colored wine lifts notes of blueberries, cola, spices, lavender and tobacco to your nose
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Winemaker Notes:
On the palate, mocha, dark fruit, exotic spices, cola, and tobacco leaf flow seamlessly into a long, rich and persistent finish. Enjoy now through 2025.
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2010
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Winemaker Notes:
Breathe in the classic Cab Franc characteristics of warm spice, dark fruit, cola, & cigar box.
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Winemaker Notes:
This beautifully balanced and complex wine leaves a mouthwatering array of baker’s chocolate, blueberries, spice, & minerality on your palate. Will age beautifully for 15+ years.
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2011
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Winemaker Notes:
A vibrant garnet colored wine with aromas of ripe black raspberry, nutmeg, jasmine tea, crushed violet, and rose potpourri.
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Winemaker Notes:
A powerful first impression on the palate with a lush and velvety texture, flavors of warm berry compote, sandalwood, cocoa powder, chipotle chili, and baking spice. A bright and lively finish accented with lingering red fruit, Spanish leather, earth, and purple flowers. Approachable now, cellar-worthy 10 years +
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Final notes, review basics, and observations:
*** NOTE TO THE READER ***
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
I refer to myself as an oenophile though, oenophilia is defined as “a disciplined devotion to wine, accompanying strict traditions of consumption and appreciation.” In a general sense, oenophilia also refers to the enjoyment of wine, often by a layman — which I am, and not qualified as a professional. I just enjoy drinking it, so my rating is based on enjoyment and the overall experience, not the science of an expert, and thus subjective, not objective. See the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ on how I arrived at the rating percentage below:
Review basics:
Overall Star Rating For Crocker & Starr:
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91/100:
An Outstanding Tasting Experience
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92/100 on 2006 &2009 Cabernet Franc & 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
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All Accolades:
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Wines Produced by Crocker & Starr:
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Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
White: Sauvignon Blanc
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Barrel Types and Aging:
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65% New French oak, for 17 months
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Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
California:
Sub-Napa AVA’s:
Other California wines, wineries (Château’s), or food articles on Wine Dine and Play:
Napa - A Sip and Taste in Wine County A 3-day tour of wineries and fine dining restaurants in Napa County, California
Blackbird Vineyards Wine Tasting An ultra-premium terroir in Napa, California
Castello di Amorosa Tuscan inspired castle with wine — friends of the Baron - Calistoga, Napa, California
Chateau Montelena The famed Bottle Shock “Judgement of Paris” winner in Calistoga, California
Emmolo Wine Tasting A merlot comparable to no other in Rutherford, California
Flying Horse Wine Tasting A spirited winery with Arabian horses in Oakville, California
Gustavo Winery Artisan winemaker whose story is tied to “The Judgement of Paris” in Napa, California
Hoopes Winery Tasting Cult cabernet winemaker with Liparita and Hoopes labels in Oakville, California
Jonata Winery Tasting Screaming Eagles sister winery, El Desafio cab, in Santa Barbara, California
Kamen Estates Low yield, high quality + film writing in Sonoma, California
Ma(i)sonry Wine Tasting An aesthetic portfolio of wines in Yountville, California
Mirror Wine Tasting A beautiful Cabernet from a family of entrepreneurs in St Helena, California
Ottimino Winery Exclusive red Zinfandel producer partnered with William Knuttel in Sonoma, California
Row 11 Santa Maria Pinot An Old World style Pinot from Santa Maria, California
Row 11 Tasting Pinot grapes using Dijon clones in Santa Maria, California
Silver Oak Cellars Near the Silverado Trail, known for high-end Cabernet in Oakville, California
Twomey Wine Tasting Napa and Sonoma wines owned by Silver Oak, Calistoga, Napa California
Volker Eisele Wine Tasting An elegant family estate in the Chiles Valley district of St Helena, California
California cuisine is a style of cuisine marked by an interest in fusion cuisine (integrating disparate cooking styles and ingredients) and in the use of freshly prepared local ingredients. The food is typically prepared with strong attention to presentation. Foods low in saturated fats and high in fresh vegetables and fruits with lean meats and seafood from the California coast often define the style.
5A5 Steak Lounge Modern Japanese steakhouse with chic design in San Francisco, California
Alioto’s Restaurant Historic restaurant serving Sicilian-infused seafood in San Francisco, California
Casita Taqueria a fast-casual taqueria serving homemade artisan Mexican food specializing especially in tacos and burritos in St. Petersburg, Florida
Ciccio Cali inspired cuisine from California using antibiotic-free meats, organic and Non-GMO vegetables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Cowgirl Creamery Artisan Cheese Shop “aka” Cowgirl Cantina in Point Reyes Station, California
FarmTable Cucina organic, sustainable, and local with a focus on Italian and New American themes in St. Petersburg, Florida
FarmTable Kitchen Casual Cal-Italian cuisine and chef tables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Fleur de Lys Lavish French-Californian by Hubert Keller in San Francisco, California
Gaia Restaurant Organic and sustainable concept in American Canyon, California (Renamed Table 29 Bistro and Bar)
Greystone CIA Restaurant CIA School restaurant formally called Wine Spectator now GateHouse in Calistoga, California
The French Laundry French-American fine dining restaurant in Yountville, California
Wipeout Bar and Grill Surf shack theme with California and Mexican cuisine in San Francisco, California
Wolfgang Puck Celebrity Chef’s California cuisine and fine dining chain; reviewed in Orlando, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
A Few New World Favorites:
New World wines are those wines produced outside the traditional wine-growing areas of Europe and the Middle East, in particular from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, United States (California, Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington State,Virginia),Thailand, and Uruguay.
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Passion, science, & innovation
Newburg, Willamette, Oregon
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Wine and food tour
Cape Town, South Africa
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Yearly tasting event at Hyde Park
Sydney, Australia
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Some Old World Favorites:
Old World wine refers primarily to wine made in Europe but can also include other regions of the Mediterranean basin with long histories of winemaking such as North Africa and the Near East. These countries include Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey.
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A Saint-Julien AOC
BY Domaines Delon
Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, France
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One Winemaker, Various Regions
Giesta Dão, Mortágua
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Wine tours and restaurants
Bordeaux, France
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Bottle Prices
(excluding taxes)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major wine countries and connoisseur’s**
Currency rates in the top wine-producing & wine purchasing countries:
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Price Chart :
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2018 (750 ml)
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Australian Dollar (AUS)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
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$$
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South African Rand (ZAR)
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RRRR
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Cost of Wine Tasting (p/p):
They offer two principal types of visits to the winery including a “Vineyard Experience” which begins with Sauvignon Blanc on the porch of their 1918 restored farmhouse adjacent to the Crocker Starr vineyards, followed by a walk around the property and adjacent vineyard concluding with a seated tasting of the estate red wines. This is a 50-minute visit for $35 per person.
The “Al Fresco Experience," also includes a wine and charcuterie pairing designed to highlight the flavor profiles of the wines. This is a 90-minute visit for $65 per person.
Crocker & Starr:
700 Dowdell Lane
St. Helena, California
Tasting Room Information:
Website:
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Tasting room:
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+01 (707) 967-9111
By appointment only
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Emails:
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Tasting Room Hours:
Pacific Standard Time (GMT, Zulu, or UTC-8:00)
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Monday - Sunday:
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for
Crocker & Starr:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Creatively presented high-energy Mediterranean Fare
Denver, Colorado, USA
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Farm-to-fork upscale local chain for Southwestern cuisine
Austin, Texas, USA
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Upscale eatery with butchery at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida, USA
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Other Crocker & Starr Wine Pictures:
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| Crocker & Starr / 1800s winery |
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.”
- David Auerbach
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
