As I sat down to write about today’s exceptional Cabernet blend, I recalled that the bottle was still sitting on my picnic table out back, having been exposed to the elements for days. I decided to check in on it. The moment the final few ounces hit the glass, I was immediately struck by the wine’s significance and profound energy. I can list but a few $30-and-under domestic reds that could ever hope to compete with Bow & Arrow’s vivid fruit, shocking purity, and downright deliciousness. In fact, I challenge anyone to name a similarly priced wine with this level of stamina and chiseled detail four days after being open. Four. Really, this type of staying power clearly speaks to the quality of organic/biodynamic fruit, the subtle power of Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon (from Willamette Valley!), and the mastery of unmanipulated winemaking. Even if this was the only wine in their portfolio, it’d still be enough to appoint Bow & Arrow as Oregon’s next “it” producer.

The fact of the matter is that their roster is loaded with superstar talent: Since 2015, we’ve steadily rolled out their Pinot Noirs, Gamays, and mind-bending “Rhinestones” blend. But “Air Guitar” is a first, and I don’t mean that in the sense of it being a debut label. This dynamite Cabernet blend has been around for a number of vintages now but most of it stays in the Oregon retail/restaurant circuit. However, a fraction does typically trickle into New York and, fortunately for all of us, California. Let me be very clear: You will not regret having a few extra bottles in stock when everybody is talking about this wine in the months and years to come! 

Scott and Dana Frank live in Portland, Oregon. By day, Scott is a wholesale wine distributor, and by night he is a stay-at-home father. Scott’s wife, Dana, trades off daytime parenting duties for a nighttime career as one of Portland’s most respected sommeliers and restaurateurs. On top of all this, the young family still finds a way to oversee a treasure trove of organically farmed vineyards with which they hand-produce a few barrels of exceptional wine under the label Bow & Arrow. Their single-vineyard Pinot Noirs are reliably outstanding and their Gamay is routinely included in lists dedicated to promoting the top wine value, but it’s today’s Cabernet blend that currently has our undivided attention. 

What makes Bow & Arrow truly special is that the wines are in no way reminiscent of typical, best-in-class “West Coast” reds. Scott and Dana are working in homage to the fresh, angular, and mouthwatering reds of Loire Valley, the pedigree of Burgundy and Cru Beaujolais, and the understated power of Bordeaux. There is no oak spice or overripe fruit on the nose, alcohol levels are moderate across the board (today’s is 12.5%), and the end result is a collection of wines that are as delicious as they are thought-provoking. 

Today’s “Air Guitar” takes after the Bordeaux model, albeit in their distinct, delightfully drinkable style. The Franks source their fruit from two premium vineyards: The Cabernet Sauvignon is what they call “the most magical and improbable” of the sites they partner with and the Cabernet Franc hails from a young-vine, biodynamically farmed vineyard planted to an array of Loire Valley varieties. In the cellar, they preserve terroir character by treating the wine very gently with no excessive technology or addition of sulfites. All of the fruit for “Air Guitar” in 2018 was de-stemmed and vinified traditionally. The resulting wine matured for 12 months in neutral puncheons (~500L barrels). 

We have a strong hunch SommSelect’s French-loving contingent will fall madly in love with “air Guitar.” On the surface, one may think this reads lighthearted but there is an underlying seriousness and profundity to each sip, especially after the wine sees ample air. Give it time, and it will exponentially reward: I recommend a minimum 60-minute decant and pulling out your Bordeaux stems before taking your first sniff or sip. An aromatic vortex erupts from the glass in the form of crushed blackcurrant, wild plums, dried black raspberry, licorice, tobacco leaf, wild herbs, cracked pepper, a hint of baking spice, damp earth, and rose petal. It’s pleasantly medium-bodied and plump, but the structure and muscular build of Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon will most certainly trick the drinker into thinking it's fuller-bodied. The palate is bright and spectacularly layered with a crunchy, dark-fruited core leading the charge. Again, I must urge you to show some restraint because the wine will develop another dimension on days two and beyond. Enjoy now and through 2028. Cheers!