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At the 5th International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition & Celebration (April 2024), Spangler Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Franc won Best of Show from the People’s Choice Judges in the Northwest Division. They also won a Double Gold Medal from the People’s Choice Judges. Pat Spangler sent me a bottle of his newest release, the 2020 Cabernet Franc and below is the story for this vintage.
First on the eyes a deep ruby red coloring and medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose aromatic aromas waft into the olfactory sense of violets and cherries. On the palate this is no ordinary Cabernet Franc, it is one of statement and commands your attention to its pedigree. Earthiness, vanilla and with blackberry swirl with abundance in the palate. On the finish, black pepper and leather are dominant with a chewy and delicious finish with just a modicum of oak.
This is an exceptional Cabernet Franc not only for Oregon, but for the entire west coast including California. A bold statement and worthy of this comment! Only 186 cases were produced and in barrel for 18 months.
This wine will make my annual Best Wines tasted during 2024. That list is reserved for roughly 1 to 2% of the 1600-1800 wines tasted during the year! That list comes out each December. I cannot stress how solid this wine represents the true character of Cabernet Franc.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
California Wines & Wineries
Pat Spangler, sole owner and operator of Spangler Vineyards, explains how his winemaking journey started in the mid-1980s by brewing beer in his college dorm room.
After graduating, Spangler made his first trip to Napa and Sonoma, immediately fell in love with wine, and decided he wanted to make it. He first moved to Santa Rosa, but soon realized Roseburg was the perfect place to establish a winery and while raising his daughter.
In early 2004, Spangler bought La Garza Cellars. The renamed Spangler Vineyards tasting room officially opened the following Memorial Day weekend. Focused on big, bold reds, he makes all six Bordeaux varietals and a Claret blend, plus Petite Sirah and Carménère. Spangler Vineyards is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
While he grows about one-third of his grapes, Spangler enjoys using other varietals. Producing 40-50 tons of grapes annually, he focuses primarily on sourcing fruit grown in Southern Oregon and sometimes travels to California for something new.
“As a winemaker, I find the challenge of teasing out the very best of every grape and harvest exciting, even after all these years,” Spangler said. “It is never the same twice.” He produces small-batch wines and describes how his process is different– it’s what makes his wines exceptional.
He said, “We use minimal sulfur and age wines for several years before release. Our wines are bigger, darker, denser than most.” Many customers with food allergies or wine sensitivities report drinking his wine without adverse reactions.
“My winemaking style remains very old school,” Spangler said. “I am not convinced by new toys and techniques. In fact, I tend to think they are all efforts to take shortcuts to get to the best wines. I have played with many of them but have now totally stopped and simply returned to what I have done for years. Why? Because I am absolutely convinced it makes better wine.”
Over the last two decades, word has spread about Spangler Vineyards. His wine club membership is up to 450 people. In the last eight years, he’s filled approximately 41,000 orders. Spangler estimates that 90 percent of his sales are through his wine club, tasting room and small events. Consequently, he can keep the wine more affordable without sacrificing standards.
That quality is of the utmost importance, too. Spangler never released a wine that failed to receive at least a gold medal. His Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Dolcetto have all earned platinum awards, for a total of over 25 during his career. Spangler Vineyards’ wines, many recognized as “best in show,” even secured the highest score in the 2024 Oregon Wine Awards. In 2018, Spangler Vineyards was named Oregon Winery of the Year by Wine Press Northwest.
Spangler manages all parts of the business– marketing, website management, events and the tasting room. While extra, reliable hands might prove helpful, he never experienced much success hiring long-term employees. None of this prevented Spangler from achieving what he does best: concentrating solely on the wine. “I really do care about the wines,” he said. “The art of blending is inspiring.”
In the future, he intends to continue nurturing his passion and creativity. He strives to create magic from the grapes and craft wines that delight people’s taste buds. To celebrate 20 years of business, Spangler mentions an upcoming event.
“I still love the challenge of capturing the essence of each grape for that specific year,” he explained. “That is a never-ending thing…every single year, there are different conditions for different grapes. The simple fact is, I absolutely love making wine. Growing up, my parents didn’t drink, and the idea of being a winemaker and owning a winery wasn’t even on the radar. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Nebbiolo and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon also win Platinum, giving us 4 this year at the WinePress Northwest Best of the Best Competition! We still have some Dolcetto and Reserve Cab, but the Franc and Nebbiolo are all but gone. Hope to see you all soon!
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