Pride Mountain has always done well with Bordeaux varietals and the 2008 Cabernet Franc is another beauty. The most elegant red in this portfolio, it offers up aromas of blue fruits intermixed with raspberries, tobacco leaf and violets. Medium-bodied and stylish with sweet tannin and a long finish, it comes from the Sonoma side of the vineyards. Drink it over the next 5-7 years. This brilliant estate, whose vineyards straddle the Napa/Sonoma county line at the top of Spring Mountain, continues to turn out a bevy of exciting wines that first made headlines when Bob Foley was the winemaker. The transition from Foley to the current winemaker, Sally Johnson, has gone flawlessly.Tel. (707) 963-4949; Fax (707) 963-6039

Another winner, the 2007 Cabernet Franc is slightly more closed and tannic than the Merlot. It reveals notes of herbs, cedar, spice box, and fruit, beautiful density, sweet tannin, and a mid-weight feel in the mouth. It should drink nicely for 10-12 years. Although this is a Napa report, I took the liberty of including the Pride Mountain Sonoma bottlings since their wines tend to be primarily Bordeaux varietals rather than the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, etc. that will be covered in the Sonoma report. My apologies to subscribers and the winery for some mistakes I made last year in issue #180, when I listed 2006 instead of 2005 for the Reserve and Vintner's Select wines. This is the strongest portfolio of Pride Mountain wines that has been made under the new winemaker, Sally Johnston, who replaced Bob Foley several years ago.Tel. (707) 963-4949; Fax (707) 963-6039