2018 Robert Sinskey "Vandal Vineyard" Cabernet Franc, Los Carneros, California, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

The Vandal Vineyard Cabernet Franc is one of Robert Sinskey’s rarest and most compelling wines—an ode to one of Bordeaux’s most aromatic and expressive grapes, interpreted through the lens of California’s coolest subregion. Situated on the Napa side of the Los Carneros AVA, Vandal Vineyard benefits from constant marine influence and thin, rocky soils, ideal for producing nuanced, terroir-driven Cabernet Franc.

The 2018 growing season was long and temperate, allowing for extended hang time and slow flavor development without excess sugar accumulation. The grapes were farmed organically and biodynamically, hand-harvested, and fermented with native yeasts in small lots. Aging took place over 22 months in French oak barrels (only about 20% new) to add polish without masking the variety’s natural character.

The wine is varietally pure yet stylistically restrained—showing red and black fruit, wild sage, olive tapenade, and pencil shavings. There's a cool-climate vibrancy and aromatic lift that nods to Chinon or Bourgueil, but with a California core of ripeness and suppleness. Tannins are present but fine, making this wine both age-worthy and enjoyable now.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Robert Sinskey Vineyards is a benchmark for sustainable, site-driven winemaking in Napa and Sonoma, known for its biodynamic estate vineyards, minimal-intervention winemaking, and culinary-first philosophy. Founded in the late 1980s by Rob Sinskey, the estate has consistently championed restraint and elegance in an area often known for opulence.

The winery’s estate vineyards—including Vandal, Three Amigos, and RSV Estate—are farmed organically and biodynamically, with an emphasis on biodiversity, soil regeneration, and vine balance. Winemaker Jeff Virnig, who has been with RSV for over three decades, leads the cellar with a light touch: native fermentations, gentle extractions, no fining or filtration, and aging in predominantly neutral oak.

The Vandal Vineyard Cabernet Franc is a standout in the portfolio—a wine that reflects the potential of Carneros to produce savory, lifted reds when farmed with intention and crafted with care. It’s a true outlier in Napa—a Cabernet Franc that speaks softly, but with clarity and soul.