Garage Wine Co. Las Higueras Vineyard Lot 112 Old Bush-Head Vines Cabernet Franc 2019

The change in the wine has resulted in a 2019 Las Higueras Vineyard bottled in a lighter Burgundy shaped bottle to reflect the new profile, after they worked over five years to revive the old vines that ‘had been overstressed for many years. New techniques and tools like a flail mower (vs blade mower) make it possible to chip/mulch everything, including last year’s cane and dung, and incorporate it all into the soil. We no longer plow this vineyard. The life in soil is more full of life/microbes and with cover crops that retain moisture better. The walk behind two-wheel tractor is the only way to get between the old narrow rows to trim cover crops. Just part of our ongoing work to redefine what ‘cultivate’ means and with balance on the farm grow tastier fruit…’ The 2019 seems to reflect a warmer and drier year, possibly with a shorter cycle. Initially, the wine doesn’t seem as balanced and refined as the 2018, especially in the texture of the tannins, but with time it blossomed and didn’t stop changing in the glass; after a couple of hours, it was simply spectacular. It has similar parameters as the 2018, but ultimately there is an extra spark of acidity here. Drink date: 2021-2028. Score – 95. (Luis Gutiérrez, robertparker.com, Aug. 31, 2021)