Description
2024 Lo-Fi Cabernet Franc – Coquelicot Vineyard, Santa Barbara County
The wine that started it all!
Cabernet Franc was the very first wine we made at Lo-Fi, and it remains one of our most popular wines to this day. Inspired by the fresh, easy-drinking Cabernet Francs of France’s Loire Valley, our take is light-to-medium-bodied, with bright red fruit, savory herbal notes, and that unmistakable Cabernet Franc character. Soft, supple tannins provide just enough structure without overpowering the wine, leading to a smooth, mellow finish. Fresh, balanced, and incredibly drinkable.
The grapes are hand-harvested from organically farmed Coquelicot Vineyard in Santa Barbara County. We ferment 100% whole clusters using carbonic maceration in a combination of Austrian oak, stainless steel, and concrete vessels. The tanks are drained of juice every few days, and after 16 days, the grapes are pressed. The free-run and press juice are combined and allowed to finish fermentation in stainless steel.
The wine is then aged for 10 months in neutral 228-liter French oak barrels and racked twice before bottling.
As with all Lo-Fi wines, fermentation happens naturally with indigenous yeasts and bacteria. No commercial yeasts, nutrients, enzymes, tannins, or other fermentation additives. Just organically grown grapes and a minimalist approach to winemaking, with only 40 ppm SO₂ added prior to bottling.
Loire Valley inspiration, Santa Barbara County roots. The original Lo-Fi.
