Candied cherry and cassis open the bouquet of the Castelvecchio 2016 Carso Cabernet Franc. This expression, from the banks of the So?a River near the Slovenian border, leans to the slightly evolved or aged side of the spectrum, with those dried fruit aromas. However, there is enough lasting freshness and fruitiness to remind us of the temperate and sunny conditions of this vintage. The bouquet segues to earthy aromas and crushed peppercorn after a little while in the glass. This mid-weight wine finishes a bit short, but it will do the trick with a hearty bowl of pasta with Pecorino. Production is 18,000 bottles.