2019 Batzella Vox Loci Cabernet Franc

The Latin Vox Loci means "the voice of a place," and this wine inspires to express Tuscany, thanks to the power and the popularity of a single grape variety. The Batzella 2019 Cabernet Franc Vox Loci will be released next year (and only 2,700 bottles were made). Its appearance is inky and dark. Aged in barrique for 24 months, the wine has grippy, dry tannins that dominate the mouthfeel at this young stage. That astringency is almost too much, and you'll want to pair this richly concentrated wine with the proverbial steak and potatoes dinner. Dark fruit and blackberry cedes to hints of green leaf and charred green pepper. Tarragon or another slightly bitter green herb is also featured. I am a bit overwhelmed by the wine's tannins, so that extra time in bottle before its market release will serve it well. There once was a Vox Loci Syrah and a Viognier, but I believe Batzella stopped making them.