Mission Codename Stardust
Can it be?
Yes, it’s BACK by popular demand. When we had a chance to snag the last few cases of this smash hit, we jumped at the opportunity. And now we’re rolling it out on a quiet Saturday morning.
The latest blockbuster “Wandering Star” Cab Franc from Stormy Weather is back! A crowd pleasing, hard-charging, full-throttle, lavishly concentrated example that goes well beyond the pale of your typical Cab Franc. From a killer vintage, with 94 POINTS.
And obviously a nice price break for you - 37% OFF!!
Many of you know Hundred Acre, the cult favorite, $400/bottle, almost-always-100-point Cabs by Jayson Woodbridge. Well, “clearly winemaking talent runs in the Woodbridge family” as Robert Parker attests because his brother Cameron also makes bad-ass wine in that full throttle, all-or-nothing style.
Cameron worked alongside Jayson and Philippe Melka, who consulted for Hundred Acre at the time, starting in 2005. He honed his skills and broke out on his own to make a comparably opulent, hedonistic, high-scoring Cabernet. Maybe you snagged some of his Wolf’s Head Cab last year before it sold out. This is cut from the same cloth. So is his wonderful, hugely popular Port that’s back in the Store today!
For the uninitiated, expect to be bowled over by this. Described in the past as a “jammy fruit bomb” on their own website, it’s a hedonistic thrill ride that always scores big. Serving up piles of ripe blackberry and raspberry jam, crushed violets, sweet pipe tobacco, and exotic wood spice. The finish goes into extra innings, and it’s NOT a shy wine in any sense of the word. Quite the opposite.
Only 7 barrels made!! Go ahead and try to find other similarly scored Napa Cab Francs in this price range (don’t spend too long in that fruitless search).
We rarely get Cab Franc on this level, so please, do yourself a favor and put at least a few in your locker. You’ll thank us later.
94 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Produced from 100% Cabernet Franc, coming from Oakville, the 2016 Cabernet Franc Wandering Star spent 30 months in French oak barrels, 80% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, it gives up a pretty floral perfume of red roses and lavender over a core of raspberry pie, wild blueberries and Morello cherries with hints of pencil shavings and forest floor. The full-bodied palate delivers taut, muscular red and blue fruit preserves with a firm, grainy texture and a lively backbone, finishing long with impressive elegance and sophistication. 194 cases were made. Drink 2021-2041.
Tasting Profile
Blackberry, raspberry jam, violets, tobacco, wood spice
Look | Inky deep violet to purple on the thin circumference |
---|---|
Smell | Ripe blackberry and raspberry jam, crushed violets, sweet pipe tobacco, exotic wood spice |
Taste | As they say, it sure is “jammy fruit bomb” - a hedonistic thrill ride that always scores big |
Finish | The finish goes into extra innings, and it’s NOT a shy wine in any sense of the word |
Pairing | A thick cut of steak or a wild mushroom ragu tossed handmade pasta of your choice |
What the Winery Says
2016 'Wandering Star' Oakville Cabernet Franc
- Winemaker
- Cameron Woodbridge
- Varietal
- 100% Cabernet Franc
- Vintage
- 2016
- Appellation
- Oakville, Napa Valley
- Alcohol
- 15.4%
- Harvest date
- September 2016
- Aging
- 30 months
- Barrels
- 80% new French oak
- Production
- 7 barrels