Wine of the Week: Macari Vineyards 2024 "Horses" Sparkling Cabernet Franc (Pet-Nat)
June 30, 2025: This soon-to-be-released sparkler is a return to form for a local favorite
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Though I enjoy the currently available petite verdot-based “Horses” bottling at Macari (look for a review of that one in Friday’s “Tasting Table” the Macari Vineyards 2024 “Horses” Sparkling Cabernet Franc ($32*) will be the one to seek out when it’s released later this summer.
The “Horses” pet-nats started with cabernet franc, and while the cab franc versions can be a bit inconsistent vintage to vintage, the 2024 is a return to form. This is cabernet franc rosé pet-nat near or at its best.
The nose starts with a punch of wild strawberry and red raspberry, with just a little peach behind, and a combination of both savory herbs and saline minerality that brings some complexity.
It’s lighter bodied but not light on flavor. Fresh, clean, and juicy, it shows a similar combination of strawberry, raspberry, and peach that is layered with both savory and earthy qualities—the kind of flavors that remind you that this can only be cabernet franc.
Macari Vineyards 2024 "Horses" Sparkling Cabernet Franc
Region: North Fork of Long Island (AVA)
ABV: 11.4%
Rating: 91 pts
Price: $32* (Summer 2025 Release)
*Sample Provided by Winery