Lots of beautiful black fruits, tobacco, chocolate, and floral nuances emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Franc, a medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, layered beauty that brings plenty of classic 2019 fruit and texture while staying balanced. It will deliver the goods for at least 10-12 years or more.

A bit leafy on the nose, the 2019 Cabernet Franc—sourced mainly from the estate Sage Vineyard on Mount Veeder and augmented by fruit from Spring Mountain and Atlas Peak—adds sage and tobacco notes to black cherries and cassis buttressed by a hint of cedary oak. Full-bodied, concentrated and velvety on the palate, this is maybe just a touch warm but pretty darn nice, finishing plush and long, with softly dusty tannins and attractive anise shadings.

Cult Wines International Notes:

Darioush Winery was established in 1997 by Darioush Khaledi, an Iranian immigrant who sought to blend the rich, ancient winemaking traditions of his homeland with the modern potential of Napa Valley. Inspired by the legendary hospitality and viticultural history of Shiraz, Iran, Khaledi and founding winemaker Steve Devitt took an unconventional path by focusing on the cooler microclimates of Southern Napa Valley. The estate is anchored by its visually stunning hospitality center, designed to resemble the ancient Persian palace of Persepolis, and its vineyards are spread across the rocky slopes of Mount Veeder and the fog-influenced plains of Oak Knoll. This commitment to cooler sites allows Darioush to produce wines—particularly Cabernet Franc—that emphasize structural elegance and aromatic complexity over raw power, honoring a “200-year plan” for family legacy and craftsmanship.

The 2019 vintage is celebrated as a high-quality, “classic” year for Napa Valley, characterized by a long and steady growing season. The year began with significant winter rainfall that saturated the soils, followed by a cool spring that delayed bud break and flowering. This slow start gave way to a temperate summer with few heat spikes, creating ideal conditions for Cabernet Franc to undergo a gradual ripening process. At Darioush, where the fruit is primarily sourced from high-elevation blocks on Mount Veeder and the estate’s southern valley floor sites, the extended hang time of 2019 allowed the varietal to develop its signature earthen and spice-driven nuances while maintaining vibrant acidity. The harvest concluded under clear skies, providing the winery with fruit that balanced the opulence of the vintage with the refined, mountain-grown structure typical of the Darioush style.