Peterson Winery Cabernet Franc 2016: Look What’s on Tap!

In our never-ending journey of tasting, reviewing, and researching box wines, on a subconscious level we’ve always been looking for “the one.” You see, we spend our days constantly reading, writing, and thinking about box wine – it’s our job. We also realize a lot of people have different views on box wine than we do. That’s fine, but it does leave us discouraged sometimes. So, “the one” is the box wine. The box wine that would validate our time, efforts, and extolling with its quality and flavor. We believe we’ve found this wine with the Peterson Winery Cabernet Franc 2016.

Though this is a red wine, we chilled the wine beforehand as we were tasting outdoors on a hot day. It wasn’t long before the wine reached its optimal cool (not cold) temp. We paired this Cabernet Franc with some fresh strawberries, chocolate, bread, and a little bit of cheese. Considering the price point pre-tasting ($99 for a 3L box), we were already expecting something great, but it was so much more complex than that. Deeply aromatic with layers of black fruits, spice, and hints of tar, this Dry Creek Valley wine is deliciously intricate. The palate is full-bodied, boasting black currants with rich and toasty notes of tobacco, spicy pepper and figs. Its flavors are well-balanced with light acidity. 

Final Thoughts?

The Peterson Winery Cabernet Franc 2016 is a rich wine experience that would not be out of place at a formal wedding, gala, or art show. There were only 70 boxes of this wine produced, and as of writing this review, there are 3 boxes left. Based on this, the price point, and the wine’s amazing palate, we categorize this wine as an Ultra-Premium Box Wine. This is a newer category, as these wines are typically made by vintners and wineries who are venturing into alternative packaging for the first time or restaurateurs and liquor stores that box their own wine blends. We will definitely be keeping our eye on this ever-growing category. 

We walked away from this wine tasting reinvigorated on the state of box wine now, and where box wine is going: alternative packaging is the future of wine. If you haven’t experienced the new state of box wine yet, now is definitely the time.