Antinori Napa Valley "Antica" Atlas Peak Cabernet Franc 2022
(Napa Valley, California) - [JD 95] [DM 94]

About this Wine:
Cabernet Franc has been planted on our estate since 1987, but it was not until the early 2000s, with the arrival of top-quality French clones into the United States, that superlative Cabernet Franc was possible on Atlas Peak.

The 2022 Cabernet Franc was harvested from four vineyard parcels on the Antinori Family’s Napa Valley Antica Estate located on the steep mountainside leading up to Atlas Peak. The blend consists of 30% from Parcel 32, planted in 2010; 30% from Parcel 63, planted in 2020; 21% from Parcel 51, planted in 2016; and 19% from Parcel 56, planted in 2010. All Cabernet Franc vineyards are planted to the French Entav clone 214, known for its low production, high color potential, and the ability to produce aromatic, fi ne-structured wines. Parcel 32: Located along our north property line, this mountainside vineyard is south facing with gravelly loam soil, and the wine exhibits ripe, jammy berry fl avors. Parcel 63: This west-facing vineyard is located near the western shore of Lake Atlas and features Aiken loam soil with 15 to 30% slopes. The wine displays vibrant color, intensity, and powerful black fruit characteristics. Parcel 51: Positioned just east of Lake Atlas and facing southeast, this vineyard is planted on Aiken loam soil with 15-30% slopes. The wine produced from this vineyard is known for its menthol notes and rich dark chocolate fl avors. Parcel 56: This vineyard is planted on a south-facing slope on Boomer gravelly loam soil and features 15-30% slopes. The wine is fresh, with great acidity and bright notes of strawberry and raspberry.

Tasting Notes:
Intensely colored and aromatic, featuring brambly berry and wild strawberry notes and cacao nibs. There are hints of bay laurel, fresh tobacco leaf, anise, and violet that add further complexity to the wine. On the palate the wine offers a complex layer of blackberry and cherry fl avors rounded out by spicy vanilla from the oak ageing with polished and dense tannins. It is a wine with persistence and balance.

Blend: 100% Cabernet Franc

Alcohol: 14.5%

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck: 
"All from Atlas Peak, the 2022 Cabernet Franc sports a saturated purple hue and offers thick red, blue, and black fruits, as well as crushed stone, charcoal, and violet-like aromas and flavors. It's full-bodied and has solid mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It shows the character of this mountain terroir, and while it has tons of upfront baby fat, it has sound underlying structure. Give bottles 2-3 years if possible and it should shine over the following 10-15 years. It might be one of the longer-lived wines in the vintage. Drink 2027-2040." (Dec 2025)

94 Points - Decanter Magazine: 
"In 2022, the Cabernet Franc truly shines. Though the Antinori property sits high above the valley and ripens later, the wine carries impressive freshness. Subtle black and white pepper lift alongside violets, framing perfectly ripe tannins. Dark cherry fruit and cherry-pit nuances mingle with slivers of salted dark chocolate, creating a finely etched and expressive wine." - Jonathan Cristaldi (Jul 2025)