Wine of the Week: Buttonwood Grove Winery 2024 Cabernet Franc Pet-Nat
July 19, 2025: A summer of terrific sparkling cabernet franc continues with this Finger Lakes pet-nat
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As you may have noticed, it’s been a banner season for sparkling cabernet franc. I’ve been tasting delicious example after delicious example—seemingly all summer.
Made by winemakers Ian Barry and Julia Alvarez, this Buttonwood Grove Winery 2024 Cabernet Franc Pet-Nat ($25*) was a standout earlier this month amongst a group of pet-nats I tasted to wrap up the category.
It’s 100% estate-grown cabernet franc, and you know it the second you put your nose in the glass. Strawberry and raspberry fruity aromas are layered with savory herbal (sage and bay leaf) and a subtle earthiness that screams “cabernet franc!” in all the best ways.
Light-to-medium bodied, the palate is juicy and refreshing with plenty of carbonation (make sure you chill it well, my bottle gushed a bit when I opened it). There is light peppery edge to strawberry, red raspberry and orange peel flavors. A little sweetness is balanced deftly, leading into a finish that is both savory and earthy.
In a world where some East Coast pet-nats are just getting too expensive, I appreciate the value of this $25 bottle even more.
Buttonwood Grove Winery 2024 Cabernet Franc Pet-Nat
Region: Finger Lakes (AVA)
ABV: 12%
RS: 1.8%
TA: 6.7
pH: 3.05
Rating: 90 pts
Price: $25* (Available Here)
*Sample Provided by Winery