• Cabernet Franc
• 12.4% abv
• 9 months neutral French oak
• Maryland Appellation 
• 750 ML
  
• Descriptors: green bell pepper, fresh green herbs, cherry, strawberry, cranberry, mineral
  

Unfined and Unfiltered (Some Sediment in Bottle is Normal)

Visually the 2021 Sandstone is bright cherry red and lighter in color. The wine was not filtered, but is still clear. There is also little to no sediment in the bottle, due to it having time to settle out while in barrel. It is possible that sediment might develop as the wine ages and more color falls out.

On the nose there is no mistaking that this wine is Cabernet Franc and it screams varietal character with lively energy. The giveaway for Cabernet Franc is an herbal greenness to the wine. This comes from the compound methoxypyrazine, which is abundant in Cabernet Franc and comes across as green bell pepper. Stylistically this is what we are going for with the Sandstone, as it is similar to the style coming out of the Loire Valley in France. But beyond the bell pepper there is some great red fruit, specifically cherry, strawberry and cranberry.

Overall the wine remains medium bodied with medium to low tannins. The complexity of the wine continues to grow with each sip, with more aromas and flavors coming into play. 

It can be drunk now, or aged up to 5 years. As the wine ages the fresh flavors and aromas will evolve into more tertiary flavors.