The Spring Mountain Red is SOLD OUT!

Knowing that may happen, we lined up “tHEIR Apparent* next big winner, also 2019, a Cabernet Franc that perfectly complements the Red you just scooped up, we’re talking DEEP, juicy, life-affirming nectars from SPRING MOUNTAIN here!

Heir Apparent is the flagship spinoff by Operative favorite Grand Napa Vineyards. They’ve been making some killer wines from their Rutherford outpost, sourcing from some of the top vineyard sites in Oakville, Rutherford, and St. Helena. The exact vineyards for this wine aren’t disclosed, but when your Cabernet Franc co-conspirators include the likes of Keenan, Lokoya, Robert Craig, Sherwin Family Vineyards, and Pride you’re in good company. There’s simply no better place to source Cab Franc in Napa Valley. Just make one of those spinny game picker things with some on it, and you can take your pick of just about anywhere on Spring Mountain and feel happy about it.

Quick, let’s see how many SMCF we can find in the $40s…

There’s exactly… wait for it… NONE. There are plenty in the $80-100+ range. Meanwhile you save 85 bucks on this one!

Spring Mountain District straddles the Mayacamas range on the western side of Napa, with Sonoma on the other side. While the vineyard sources are protected under an NDA, you really can’t go wrong with any location here. They’re all grade AAA certified.

This delivers big league flavor and complexity. Seductive red fruits, minerality, and spices. Some come hither raspberry and ripe strawberry, a kiss of violets, a nibble of wood bark, plums, and sweet spices. Pyrazines, which can sometimes overwhelm a Cab Franc, seem held in check. Done in a more opulent, full-throttle style, as Heir Apparent tends to do. And drinking PRIME right now.

Cab Franc has been a rare sight lately. Get some while it’s here - especially at this price!

91 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“The 2019 Heir Apparent Cabernet Franc features enough leafy, tobacco and menthol notes to give the wine’s cherries a slightly medicinal cast. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, the wine shows ample concentration, a rich texture and a long, silky finish. Drink 2023-2035.”