2021 Canard Vineyard “Adam’s Blend”
*There appears to be a data/cataloging discrepancy concerning the Jeb Dunnuck score. The 95-point score is also notable because Canard's 2019 Adam's Blend received 95 points from Jeb Dunnuck, which may explain how the number was carried over in some listings.
What the wine is like
The 2021 is a Cabernet Franc-dominant Bordeaux-style blend, described as combining the elegance of Right Bank Bordeaux with the structure of Left Bank styles. The blend is reported as Cabernet Franc-led, with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and tasting notes emphasize violets, rose petals, red fruits, spice, cocoa, rhubarb, cranberry and cherry.
The overall picture is of a medium-bodied, polished Napa red rather than a massive Cabernet—more floral, red-fruited and supple, with substantial structure and a long finish.
Bottom line
I'd characterize the professional reception as good to very good, roughly 90–93 points based on the scores I can substantiate, with the potentially erroneous 95-point Jeb Dunnuck listing requiring caution.
One interesting benchmark: Canard's own trade material specifically lists the 2021 Adam's Blend at 93 Wine Independent and 90 James Suckling, which makes those the cleanest verified professional scores I found.
Tasting profile
Appearance:
Deep ruby to garnet, though likely not as opaque or massive-looking as a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Napa blend.
Nose:
The aromatic profile is one of the wine's more distinctive aspects. Think:
- Violet and rose petals
- Red plum
- Strawberry preserve / strawberry jam
- Fresh red cherries and cranberries
- Subtle spice
- A faint cocoa/mocha character from the French oak
The floral character is particularly important here. The Cabernet Franc seems to give the wine a perfumed, lifted quality rather than simply contributing structure.
Palate:
The wine is described as medium-bodied, with a relatively soft, graceful entry that builds into more substantial structure. The fruit leans toward the red spectrum—cranberry, cherry and rhubarb—rather than the blackberry/cassis profile you might expect from a big Napa Cabernet.
The palate develops into:
- Sweet cranberry
- Red cherry
- Rhubarb
- Red plum
- Cocoa
- Floral/rose notes
- Fine, persistent tannin
The finish is apparently where the wine really gains weight: long, structured and savory, with cocoa, dried rose and red-fruit flavors lingering. The interesting thing about the blend
The 2021 is reported as approximately 91% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. That's unusually Cabernet Franc-forward for a Napa Bordeaux blend.
That explains why I'd expect this to drink quite differently from a conventional Napa Cabernet:
Less:
blackberry → cassis → black cherry → vanilla → massive oak
More:
violet → rose → red plum → cranberry → cherry → cocoa → savory spice
So if someone likes Cabernet Franc from the Loire, Right Bank Bordeaux, or elegant Napa Cab Franc, this should be particularly interesting.
Texture and structure
The producer description calls the tannins long and soft, while also emphasizing the wine's structure and age-worthiness. It's therefore not a light, delicate red despite being medium-bodied.
I'd describe the texture as:
silky → supple entry → increasingly structured mid-palate → persistent tannic finish
That combination is probably why the wine is characterized as bridging Left Bank and Right Bank Bordeaux—Cabernet Sauvignon contributes some of the backbone, while Merlot and especially Cabernet Franc give it softness, perfume and red-fruit character.
Oak
It is aged in French oak, and the tasting notes suggest the oak is integrated rather than being the dominant feature. The cocoa note is particularly interesting—it sounds more like dark chocolate/cacao than overt vanilla or toast.
That's a positive sign for someone who doesn't want a heavily oaked Napa red.
Food pairing
This is actually one of the wines where the medium body + acidity + softer tannins make it more versatile than a huge Napa Cabernet.
I'd pair it with:
- Roast duck
- Lamb
- Beef tenderloin
- Veal
- Pork loin
- Mushroom dishes
- Short ribs
- Herb-crusted roast meats
- Duck with cherry or plum sauce
- Aged cheeses
The red-fruit and floral character should be especially good with lamb or duck, where a massive Cabernet can sometimes overpower the food.
Drinking window
The producer/distributor describes it as age-worthy for 10+ years, thanks to the French oak and structure. At this point, I'd expect the 2021 to be very enjoyable now with decanting, but it has enough tannin and structure to develop further. If you have several bottles, I'd be inclined to drink one now and hold another for 2028–2032.
