Octopoda Cabernet Franc
Pairs with: Rosemary-crusted roasted chicken, a juicy bison burger topped with goat cheese, grilled pork chops with a savory plum reduction, pan-seared portobello mushroom steaks, or a comforting duck ragù tossed with thick pappardelle pasta.
Good for: Introducing a dedicated Cabernet Sauvignon drinker to a smoother, more aromatically expressive alternative; sparking instant conversation at a dinner party courtesy of a strikingly cool, octopus-art bottle; or securing a high-value, lush red for a cozy weeknight in.
Grape: 100% Cabernet Franc.
I am from: North Coast, California, USA (Sourced from premium, coastal-influenced vineyard parcels across California's celebrated northern wine regions).
The Story: Octopoda Wines operates under the creative banner of the Navigator Wine Collection, an innovative group dedicated to exploring the rich, diverse terroirs of California with a sense of playful mystery and uncompromised craftsmanship. The brand takes both its name and its striking visual identity from the Octopoda order—the fascinating, multi-armed, and highly intelligent creatures of the deep sea. The playful inside joke behind the label is simple: after just one sip of their juice, you’re going to find yourself wishing you had eight arms just so you could hold more glasses at once.
While many mainstream California producers treat Cabernet Franc as a background blending grape strictly reserved to add top-note seasoning to massive Cabernet Sauvignons, Octopoda gives the varietal a starring, standalone role. The winemaking team selectively sources fruit from premier hillside and valley-floor parcels throughout the North Coast AVA. This vast, microclimate-rich territory benefits from a brilliant natural climate engine: intense, warm daytime sun that allows the thin-skinned Cabernet Franc grapes to fully ripen and shed any harsh, green edges, paired with crisp, foggy maritime blankets rolling inward from the Pacific Ocean at night to lock in a vital, mouthwatering acidity. In the cellar, the grapes are handled with a contemporary, fruit-first touch—fermented at controlled temperatures and treated to measured aging in seasoned oak barrels to wrap the grape's natural, wild-berry core in an exceptionally smooth frame.
Why You'll Love Me: It is lush, wonderfully expressive, and beautifully complete—a California Cabernet Franc that trades the intensely herbaceous, lean crunch of the Old World for a plush, velvety, and fruit-forward embrace. In the glass, it pours a deep, intense ruby-purple color. The nose is a delightfully aromatic and atmospheric playground, instantly launching into a fragrant bouquet of ripe blueberries, fresh black raspberries, and dark purple plums, seamlessly layered with elegant top notes of fresh violets, red licorice, and a comforting, sweet whisper of vanilla bean and dark chocolate from the oak.
On the palate, it delivers a gorgeous structural ride; it hits with a medium-to-full-bodied density that luxuriously blankets the tongue with a sweet, succulent core of wild berry fruits and dark cherry gelée. Yet, it never defaults to flabby or heavy weight. A driving beam of cool coastal freshness keeps the palate feeling athletic and lively, while remarkably smooth, fine-grained, and well-integrated tannins provide a polished architectural frame that glides effortlessly into a long, graceful finish marked by a trailing touch of light peppery spice, saddle leather, and sweet cedar wood.
