Vinum Cellars The Scrapper

Vinum Cellars The Scrapper Cabernet Franc is a full-bodied, 100% Cabernet Franc from El Dorado County, California, bottled at 14.9% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2015 vintage earned 93 points and an Editor's Choice designation from Wine Enthusiast, and multiple vintages have scored 90 or above from Robert Parker and The Tasting Panel.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.9%  |  Origin: El Dorado County, Sierra Foothills, California  |  Varietal: 100% Cabernet Franc  |  Winery: Vinum Cellars (Richard Bruno & Chris Condos)

Production & Heritage

Vinum Cellars is the collaboration of winemakers Richard Bruno and Chris Condos. The Scrapper draws its fruit from the Van Huen Vineyard, a head-trained hillside site at roughly 1,600 feet elevation in California's Sierra Foothills, farmed using organic practices though not certified. The vines are 25-plus years old and low-yielding, producing only around 500 cases per vintage. After harvest, the wine ages 26 to 28 months in French oak barrels, building the structured, layered profile the bottling is known for.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with concentrated dark fruits — ripe huckleberry, black cherry, and blueberry — followed by peppery spice and floral hints of violet. Deeper layers reveal cinnamon, cedar, and a subtle cigar-box character from extended French oak aging.

Taste: The entry is dense and fruit-forward, with juicy blackberry, cassis, and plum flavors filling the mid-palate. As it develops, savory notes of dark chocolate, mocha, and leather emerge alongside fine-grained tannins. The structure is grippy but balanced, with enough ripe fruit concentration to keep everything in proportion.

Finish: Long and dry, with lingering coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and a trace of green pepper that adds lift. The tannins carry through cleanly, leaving a savory impression that invites the next sip.

How to Drink The Scrapper

This is a wine built for the table. Serve it at cellar temperature (around 60–65°F) in a large-bowled glass; decanting for 30 to 45 minutes will soften the tannins and open the aromatic layers. A splash of air transforms The Scrapper from tightly wound to generous. While primarily a food wine, it stands confidently on its own for those who enjoy structured, dry reds.

Best For

• Gifting a red-wine lover who appreciates under-the-radar California varietals
• Pairing with a weekend steak dinner or braised short ribs
• Adding depth to a curated tasting flight of single-varietal Cabernet Francs
• Cellaring three to seven years to explore how the tannins evolve

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Scrapper taste like? The Scrapper delivers bold black cherry, cassis, and blueberry fruit layered with savory dark chocolate, leather, and coffee, all framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and a long, dry finish.

How does The Scrapper compare to Bordeaux Right Bank Cabernet Franc? Classic Right Bank Cabernet Francs — such as those from Saint-Émilion — tend toward earthy, herbal profiles at moderate alcohol levels, while The Scrapper leans into riper, darker fruit with higher concentration and a bolder 14.9% ABV reflecting its Sierra Foothills terroir. Both share the varietal's signature violet and pepper aromatics, but The Scrapper's 26–28 months in French oak gives it a more overtly structured, New World character.

Is The Scrapper good for sipping on its own? Yes — the wine's density and layered complexity reward slow, contemplative drinking, especially after 30 minutes of decanting to let the tannins relax and the aromatic range expand.

Where is The Scrapper made? The Scrapper is produced by Vinum Cellars from fruit grown at the Van Huen Vineyard in El Dorado County, a sub-region of California's Sierra Foothills AVA situated at approximately 1,600 feet elevation.

What foods pair well with The Scrapper? Grilled lamb chops highlight the wine's peppery aromatics. Braised short ribs or beef bourguignon match its tannic structure and savory chocolate notes. Hard aged cheeses like Comté or Manchego complement the mocha undertones. Roasted root vegetables with herbs echo the wine's earthy, spiced character.

What sizes does The Scrapper come in? The Scrapper is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is The Scrapper worth the price? With only around 500 cases produced per vintage and consistent critical scores above 90 points, The Scrapper positions itself as a premium small-production Cabernet Franc that delivers concentration and complexity competitive with wines at significantly higher price points.

Why The Scrapper?

Finding a 100% varietal Cabernet Franc of this quality from California remains uncommon; most domestic versions appear as blending components rather than solo performers. The Scrapper's combination of old-vine fruit from a single organically farmed hillside vineyard, extended French oak aging, and micro-production of roughly 500 cases creates a wine with genuine scarcity and character. A 93-point Editor's Choice from Wine Enthusiast and repeated 90-plus scores across vintages confirm that this is not a novelty bottling but a serious expression of what El Dorado County Cabernet Franc can achieve. For drinkers looking beyond the usual Napa and Sonoma labels, The Scrapper makes a compelling case for the Sierra Foothills.