Catena Appellation San Carlos Cabernet Franc 2023

The 2023 Cabernet Franc Appellation San Carlos, aged for up to 13 months in barrel, opens with soft ash notes, a touch of bell pepper and oak in the background. Intense with a chalky texture and a taut profile, the 2023 finishes with lovely fruit. This well-structured red showcases a calibrated balance between fruit and the vintage’s characteristic ripeness. Drinking window: 2025-2035. Score – 93. (Joaquín Hidalgo, vinous.com, April 24, 2025)