Detert Family Vineyards

Detert Family Vineyards is one of Napa Valley's few estates specializing in Cabernet Franc as a standalone varietal, producing the grape from a historic Oakville vineyard site that has been in the family since the 1950s. Founded as its own label in 2001, the estate occupies 22 acres on the Oakville benchland adjacent to some of the most famous vineyard addresses in the world. The decision to champion Cabernet Franc rather than the expected Cabernet Sauvignon from prime Oakville terroir is a statement of conviction: the family believes their site produces Cabernet Franc of a quality that justifies standalone bottling.

The 22-acre vineyard sits on the Oakville benchland, with the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon plantings occupying the soil types and exposures best suited to each variety. The Oakville terroir produces Cabernet Franc of unusual depth and complexity, with the warmth of the appellation developing the variety's aromatics while the benchland soils provide structural backbone.

Winemaker Tom Garrett produces a Cabernet Franc that demonstrates what the variety achieves when given prime Oakville terroir. The wine is aromatic and complex, with the herbal, peppery character of the variety enhanced by the dark fruit richness that Oakville naturally provides. The estate Cabernet Sauvignon shows classic benchland character.

Tastings are by appointment on the Oakville estate. The $85 fee includes both the Cab Franc and the Cabernet Sauvignon, providing a comparison that illuminates the parent-offspring relationship between the two varieties.

Detert matters because it stakes Oakville's prestige on Cabernet Franc, a variety that most of the appellation's producers relegate to a blending component. The wines prove that Oakville's world-class terroir can produce world-class Cab Franc, not just the Cabernet Sauvignon the appellation is famous for.