It’s not always the Bordeaux model in California: This bouncy red is light, juicy, and unquestionably Loire-inspired.

The Clarksburg AVA is just a few miles south of Sacramento, California. The region’s 7,000 acres of vines are planted in dense clay/loam soils along the Sacramento River. The hallmark of this terroir is the intense wind and fog generated by the San Francisco Bay that moves up the Sacramento Delta, providing a balance of warm days and cooler evenings—conditions not unlike those found in France’s Central Loire Valley, where Cabernet Franc thrives.

The intent from the start here was to produce a juicy, lighter-weight Cabernet Franc that captures its violet-scented aromatics and red/black fruit without an overly heavy bell pepper component. Grapes were fully destemmed at harvest and subjected to a relatively short maceration in stainless steel during fermentation. The finished wine was aged in “neutral” (i.e. used) oak barrels for six months before bottling.

Fanatic Wine Company is a “domestic” winemaking project launched by the principals at Copa Fina Wine Imports, a California-based importer specializing in South American wines. Founded in 2009, Fanatic has gone all-in on the little-known Clarksburg AVA, producing both Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc from the region as well as a skin-contact Pinot Gris.

Translucent, slightly cloudy ruby color in the glass, lighter than a Loire Chinon or Bourgueil but somewhat reminiscent of those wines on the nose: cherry, raspberry, pink peppercorn and violet leap out first and carry over to the juicy, medium-bodied palate. This is an easy-drinking style of Cabernet Franc that will take well to a chill. A great choice for outdoor BBQ.