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Tag Archives: Cabernet franc

Clos de los Siete by Michel Rolland 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

08 Wednesday May 2024

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$20, 5 stars, 90 points, Argentina, Cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, Malbec, Mendoza, merlot, petit verdot, syrah, Uco Valley


Deep inky purple with slight staining and high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of baked blackberry cobbler with vanilla, warm spices and nicely browned crust.  Mulberry and açaí berry follow with some mint and black tea notes.  The palate has medium acidity, a full body and medium tannins.  Medium (+) flavors of dark fruit, toasty oak, a slight bitterness from the tannins that have finally gripped and some heavy layers of mint/acai/vanilla that go on to a medium (-) finish.  A very delicious wine with decent structure – 90 points. Drink till 2028 with grilled tenderloins.  A blend of 50% Malbec, 24% Merlot, 11% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot makes this $20 bottle a 5 star effort.  Salut….

 

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Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2012, Stellenbosch, South Africa

13 Saturday Apr 2024

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$70, 4 stars, 93 points, bordeaux blend, Cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, South Africa, stellenbosch


Deep garnet colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  On the nose I get medium intensity aromas of cassis, leather, mint, pencil shavings, blackberry, black plum, coffee, vanilla, toasty oak and stewed mulderberry.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are integrating nicely.  Rich flavors of cassis, stewed mulderberry, black plum jam with tertiary development by way of leather as well as oak influence- vanilla, coffee and toasty oak.  The pencil shavings and mint are present and add a nice angle.  The finish turns a little tart, surprising for a New World wine but then again this is a classic Bordeaux blend- Cab Sav 70%, Merlot and Cab Franc at 15% each.  The length of said finish is quite long and lingering, inviting me to take another sip.  This bottle is at peak and en pointe.  I nearly pulled it 5 years ago, thank goodness I waited.  93 points for this $70 wine makes it a 4 star effort.  Drink by 2028.  I’m pairing it with Tenderloin tails and Peppercorn sauce.  Salut….

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Sena 2015, Aconcagua Valley, Chile

23 Saturday Mar 2024

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$140, 3 stars, 94 points, Aconcagua valley, Cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, carmenere, chile, merlot, petit verdot, VWTC


The penultimate wine at our 35th virtual tasting- medium ruby to garnet colored with a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of barnyard, Sweet Baby Rays (from a fellow taster!), capsicum, cardamom, licorice, coffee, bramble, blackberry, smoke, leather, vanilla, baking spices and green pistachios.  Quite a complex array of aromas!  The palate was dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that were fully integrated.  Flavors of tobacco, coffee, cranberry, bramble, blackberry, leather, vanilla and creamy milk chocolate that led to a medium (+) length finish.  Everyone loved this wine- they should.  It was $140 and got 100 points from one pro.  For me, it fell short on the finish so I gave it 19/20 on our score sheet.  Technically speaking it got 94 points and therefore it is a 3 star wine.  Lovely and age-worthy, this is an iconic Chilean blend that is right up my alley.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

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Bodega Garzon Reserva Cabernet Franc 2021, Maldonado, Uruguay

19 Tuesday Mar 2024

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$16, 5 stars, 90 points, Cabernet franc, Maldonado, uruguay


Medium ruby colored with slight staining and a high viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of capsicum, bilberry, black raspberry, red plum, coffee, caramel, vanilla and smoke.  The palate is dry with a medium body and medium tannins.  Flavors of blueberry, plum, black raspberry, coffee and a remnant of the green pepper go on for a medium length finish.  This $16 bottle is delicious and well balanced, albeit not overly complex.  I would say it is worthy of 90 points and therefore- 5 stars.  I have always enjoyed the wines from Bodega Garzon and find them to be exceptional value for money- their Tannat is awesome.  My pairing tonight is a grilled Tri-tip with steamed Japanese yams.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

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Fabre Montmayou Reserva Cabernet Franc 2022, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

29 Thursday Feb 2024

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$16, 3 stars, 88 points, Argentina, Cabernet franc, lujan de cuyo, medoza


Deep purple colored with slight straining and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of blueberry, mint, green pepper, black raspberry, lavender, cedar and violet.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium tannins.  Flavors of blueberry, black raspberry, menthol, green tea and cedar along with a phenolic bitterness.  The finish is a bit astringent with medium persistence and a focus on the raspberry and menthol notes.  It’s got decent structure, I just worry about the astringency.  88 points from me for this $16 effort makes it a 3 star wine to drink till 2027.  I’m pairing with seared Sirloin steaks.  Salut….

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Bodega Aleanna ‘El Enemigo’ Cabernet Franc 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

25 Sunday Feb 2024

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$22, 4 stars, 90 points, Argentina, Cabernet franc, Mendoza


Deep purple with moderate staining and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of capsicum, black cherry, black plum, licorice, coffee, burnt sugar, clove, violets and acai berry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins and a medium body.  Flavors of acai berry, black plum, black cherry, coffee, violets and smoky clove lead to a medium (+) length finish that has a nice tannic dryness and some caressing black and blue fruit.  Retasting- the body is medium (-) in weight and the density of the fruit is a little diluted. I can’t say I agree with the trio of 93 points from others, more like 90 to me. I am pairing it with Pot Roast and Yorkshire puddings, I think the tannic grip will do nicely with the fatty nature of the dish. At $22 it’s a 4 star wine to drink till 2027. Salut….

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Buttonwood Grove winery Cabernet Franc 2021, Finger Lakes, New York

06 Tuesday Feb 2024

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$25, 3 stars, 90 points, Cabernet franc, finger lakes, New York


Pale ruby colored with medium viscosity (12% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of capsicum, cedar, red cherry, red plum, baking spices, currants and faint licorice.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) tannins and a light body.  The fruit flavors mimic the nose to an extent- currants, pomegranate, red plum with cedar, vanilla, chalky tannins, faint licorice and a hint of green pepper.  The finish has medium (+) length and is slightly tart.  For a $25 wine from a difficult vintage this is a very nice drop- I’m starting to appreciate and understand this varietal when made in the Finger Lakes.  It’s different from Loire or Bordeaux Cab Franc… see-through and much lighter in style.  90 points from me makes this a 3 star effort.  Drink till 2028 with Veal, roast Chicken or baked Ham.  Salut….

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Le Pre Vaujour Chinon 2020, Loire, France

09 Tuesday Jan 2024

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$22, 3 stars, 89 points, Cabernet franc, chinon, france, loire


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose of this Cabernet Franc has medium intensity aromas of green pepper, licorice, blackberry, blackcurrant and tomato leaf.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins and a medium body.  On the palate I get medium intensity flavors of black currant, blackberry, licorice, green pepper and charred oak.  The finish is medium in length and a touch tart yet refreshing.  Lovely and lithe, this wine will pair nicely with duck, grilled sweetbreads or bangers and mash.  Drink till 2028.  89 points and for $22- 3 stars.  Salut….

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Arraigo Benegas Estate Wine Cabernet Franc 2021, Mendoza, Argentina

12 Tuesday Dec 2023

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$20, 3 stars, 87 points, Argentina, Cabernet franc, Mendoza


Deep purple colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of blueberry pie, with vanilla and baking spices really prominent.  Acai berry and black plum support alongside bell pepper and mint.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (-) tannins.  A medium body shows off ripe blue fruit, vanilla, spices and a hint of greeness.  The finish is a little bit tart with the blueberry tending to slightly underripe which is interesting.  The length is short to medium and very pleasant.  I like this somewhat basic wine for what it is- a $20 weekday quaffer.  It gets 87 points from me and 3 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

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Carmen Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – Cabernet Franc 2021, Maipo Valley, Chile

06 Wednesday Dec 2023

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$17, 5 stars, 91 points, Cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, chile, maipo valley


Deep purple colored with slight staining and high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has  medium intensity aromas of candied black cherry, blackberry, coffee, violets, vanilla and eucalyptus- it’s quite perfumed.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are silky.  A full body on this wine brings flavors of toasty oak interlaced with blackberry, black cherry, violets, vanilla and coffee.  The finish is satiny and medium in length.  I picked this bottle to pair with Steak au Poivre- it’s the perfect choice.  I think this is a 91 point wine even thought the label clearly boasts a 93 point award.  For $17, it’s a 5 star bottle to drink till 2028.  Salut….

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