Apollo’s Praise Picardie Cabernet Franc 2025

Apollo’s Praise is the Finger Lakes project of Kelby James Russell and Julia Hoyle, two winemakers who both came up through some of the region’s most important estates before launching their own label in 2023. Kelby is a Finger Lakes native who made his name at Red Newt, especially with site driven riesling, while Julia brings a similarly thoughtful, detail oriented approach from her time at Hosmer. Together they focus on Lahoma Vineyard on the west side of Seneca Lake along with a small set of carefully farmed partner sites, working in a style that prioritizes precision, transparency, and regional identity rather than oak or weight.

Picardie cabernet franc is one of their core red bottlings, sourced from Finger Lakes vineyard sites that are farmed for balance rather than ripeness alone. The wine is named after the classic French bistro tumblers, a subtle nod to its intent as a serious but highly drinkable expression of cabernet franc. In the Finger Lakes context, the grape is a natural fit, thriving in the cool climate where it can ripen slowly and retain its signature acidity and aromatic lift.

Winemaking is geared toward clarity and structure without heaviness. The fruit is typically destemmed, then cold soaked before a native fermentation in stainless steel, with a mix of punch downs and pump overs to manage extraction. After fermentation, the wine spends extended time on skins and stems, which builds fine tannic structure and savory detail, before aging on lees in tank rather than oak. The result is a wine that stays firmly in the fresh, transparent camp while still having real grip and presence on the palate.

The 2025 shows a very classic Finger Lakes cabernet franc profile, with bright red cherry, raspberry, and red currant layered over black tea, violet, and a gentle green herbal edge. There is a subtle peppery lift and a faint graphite note that comes through as it opens. The texture is what stands out most, a combination of juicy fruit and fine, chalky tannins that give shape without weight, finishing clean, savory, and slightly floral.