Kelly Washington Cabernet Franc, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Although based in Marlborough Kelly Washington’s Cabernet Franc comes from Hawke’s Bay specifically the currently in high demand Howell Vineyard in the warm Bridge Pa Triangle. It’s matured in French oak for ten months but very little of that is new oak which prevents the fruit from being overpowered. The result is a vibrant Cabernet Franc with a big personality that’s screaming out for barbeque season and long boozy lunches in the sunshine. Expect a perfumed luscious and super-elegant red displaying fresh blackcurrant crisp strawberry ripe plum raspberries and silky rose petal notes. Often Cabernet Franc has a green and vegetal edge to it but not here this is pure fruity pleasure.

Kelly Washington wines is a partnership between Tamra Washington and her husband Simon Kelly. Tamra grew up in Malborough, and was working in vineyards and restaurants from an early age, which sparked her fascination with the world of wine. After completing her viticultural and oenology studies in New Zealand, she went on to work in New Zealand, California and Italy, before returning home.

Kelly Washington wines is a premium negociant project, and Tamra is working key growers and select, organically farmed vineyards across New Zealand. Tamra told me it has been her mission since day one to make Cabernet Franc as part of her range of wines. Having lived and worked in Europe for over 7 years, she fell in love and drank Loire Valley Cabernet Franc, as often as she could. And it took her a bit of time to find this special block of Franc in the Howell/Prospect Vineyard in the Bridge Pa Triangle sub-region of Hawke's Bay, and 2018 was her first vintage.