If Venge’s 2022 Stagecoach Cabernet Sauvignon showed you what Kirk Venge could achieve with Napa’s most celebrated grape, the 2022 Sugarloaf Vineyard Cabernet Franc turns that same precision toward an entirely different variety. It starts at one of Napa Valley’s most distinctive growing sites. Perched on the rocky slopes above San Pablo Bay, Sugarloaf Vineyard rises to more than 1,000 feet, where steady marine influence naturally extends the growing season. Those conditions have made it one of Napa Valley’s most compelling homes for Cabernet Franc, and this bottling lets the site speak for itself. Kirk Venge has built his reputation by knowing when a great vineyard fruit needs guidance and when it simply needs to be left alone. With this Sugarloaf harvest, that philosophy begins with native yeast fermentation before the wine spends 22 months in French oak. Every decision serves a single purpose: preserving the vineyard’s character rather than reshaping it. At $49.99, this is both an exceptional introduction to Napa Valley Cabernet Franc and a natural next step from the winery behind our #1 Wine of 2025.