The spectacular 1994 Cabernet Franc offers a pronounced sweet, smoky, earthy, roasted meat, black-cherry, and cassis-scented nose. Dense, with fabulous concentration, a chewy texture, and a full-bodied, long, layered finish, this wine is already difficult to resist, but it should keep for 12-15 years.
Perhaps the most underrated (or under-publicized) wine from La Jota is their Cabernet Franc. Readers may remember that when I did the retrospective blind tasting of the 1986 vintage, one of the top wines in the tasting was La Jota's 1986 Cabernet Franc. I have been buying this wine over recent vintages, and frankly, I can't get enough of it. It is the finest Cabernet Franc made in California, but, unfortunately, only 350 cases are produced.
While La Jota has an effective national distribution network, quantities of the wines are also sold via a mailing list, a list on which any Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, or Cabernet Franc lover should be included.
Tel. (707) 965-3020; Fax (707) 965-0324