PHANTOM CREEK ESTATES CABERNET FRANC 2022

The South Okanagan Phantom Creek Cab Franc comes from estate blocks on both sides of the valley: The fresher, vibrant red fruit and spice come from Kobau Vineyard on the Golden Mile Bench; while the warm, showy, generous black fruit are from the east side Black Sage Bench. It’s the blending that creates the magic here, balancing the best of both worlds and giving this franc a spicy red fruit vibrancy and a plush texture all dusted with sagebrush. The alcohol is below 15% this year, helping with the drinkability. Serve with any dish you like, as nothing will be too big for this red, while it’s young. (Anthony Gismondi,Other,Nov. 6, 2025)