Wine of the Week: Sheldrake Point Vineyards 2023 "Beta Series" Blanc de Cabernet Franc
June 5, 2025: A chance encounter on the North Fork led to the discovery of this stunner of a sparkler
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I hadn’t seen Sheldrake Point winemaker Dave Breedan in many, many years (maybe 2014? 2015?), and yet there he was, standing inside the tasting room at Bedell Cellars on the North Fork of Long Island, along with associate winemaker Lillian Perry Hicks and the new owners of Sheldrake Point—and Long Island natives —Dean and Michele Babich.
I was there for a friend’s 40th birthday celebration. They were tasting at a couple of North Fork wineries before pouring rosé at an event in the Hamptons the next day.
They had this bottle of Sheldrake Point 2023 “Beta Series” Blanc de Cabernet Franc ($45*) with them. Apparently, there wasn’t anyone else around to give it to, because they handed it to me. I’m glad they did.
You probably noticed that I spent May tasting still rosés, and June is all about riesling and non-Methode Champenoise sparkling wines around here, but I’m making an off-schedule exception to tell you about this beautiful wine. A winery exclusive that I think we’re going to get for this month’s wine club shipment.
Hicks calls this wine a “a joint project between Dave and I, as I was granted responsibility of the sparkling program in the middle of this wine's life.” If this is any indicator of where she’s going with the winery’s sparkling wines, you’re going to want to pay attention.
The nose is complex, with a lightly toasty, brioche-y edge to a core of strawberry and green apple, with citrus, citrus blossom, and some subtle-but-classic Finger Lakes slate minerality. Light-bodied and brisk, the palate is as pure as it is fresh, with strawberry, raspberry, and green apple fruitiness backed by floral notes and more of that slate character. The acidity is brisk, the carbonation fine and persistent, and the finish long and snappy. I have the words “focused and pure” underlined twice in my notebook.
Sheldrake Point Vineyards 2023 "Beta Series" Blanc de Cabernet Franc
Region: Finger Lakes (AVA)
ABV: 12.1%
RS: 1.5%
TA: 9.1
pH: 3.09
Rating: 93 pts
Price: $45* (Available Here)
*Sample Provided by Winery
I can now confirm that this wine IS in my wine club's June 2025 shipment! It arrived at the store yesterday!
I’m going to have to add this to my shopping list !