Tag Archives: Cabernet franc

Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2013

01 Friday May 2015

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If you read much of my blogging you will know that I love this varietal.  It exudes a softer sexier side to the Cabernet grape while showing off floral notes.  This winery is where my son and I took a tour when we were in the Valley this past Spring.  The wine is a crimson purple and has a stunning nose of blackberry and chocolate with some violet hints.  Super smooth introduction of black and blue berries with a smidgen of oak and a tasty coating of lithe tannins. The mid palate is dark and brooding whilst the finish is decently long and caressing with tannic dryness and a touch of acidity. This is a super delicious wine which technically gets 91 points from me, bravo. 2015-2022.  $28 make it a 4 star effort in my books.  Salut….

alexander valley vineyards cabernet franc

Jettlynn Winery Mon Couer Masters Blend

05 Sunday Apr 2015

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I forgot to not the vintage and the picture does not show it so I am going with NV.  I bought it at Costco for $17, but the winery advertises it at $70.  Wow.

Anyway, I have tried the Jettlynn Cabernet Sauvignon before and was happy with it.  I was looking forward to this bottle as it blends together many of my favorites, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah amongst the staples of Cab Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.  Purple hued with a nose of violets, blackberry jam and eucalyptus.  A fresh and tannic intro of black berries, cinnamon, plum and orange peel. Young tannins are still integrating but it won’t stop you from popping it with some grilled lamb. Not much acidity, which makes me curious about its cellaring potential. 5 years?? 89 points and very tasty.  For the $17 its a no-brainer 3 star wine.  Get some if you see it for that price.  Salut….

jettlynn mon couer

Domaine de Beausejour Chinon 2010

05 Sunday Apr 2015

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On my California grand adventure with my son, I managed to stop into a Whole Foods and take advantage of their sale on six packs of wine that day, they threw in a carrier for free!

I wanted a Chinon as soon as I saw the region represented.  I was dying for a good Cabernet Franc, I figured the French would deliver.  I was hoping for sexy, alluring violets, a dash of perfume, some silky tannins and perhaps a dollop of cassis for good measure.  I was sadly disappointed.  It was a lighter purple than expected with a very subtle nose of violets and damson.  Light plums and some flower essence on the palate.  The wine was dry yet not very tannic with a mid palate transition to darker berries and some acidity that is offset by some heat. Not an easy drinker nor was it my favorite flavor profile.  84 points and only 2 stars for this $16 effort.  Pass and salut….

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707 Cabernet Franc Rockpile 2012

21 Wednesday Jan 2015

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From the northern part of Sonoma comes this gem.  My buddy brought it to the tasting and paid $38 for it.  I was excited to try it as you know how I love the Franc.

We were outside by the fire pit so I could not really make out the color or clarity.  The nose was gorgeous though.  Violets and plum notes with a touch of oak on the first whiff.  Fresh and bracing initial attack with flowers, cinnamon, plum torte and vanilla creme.  Rich acidity and smooth tannins make for a long cellaring potential. This is a well made and deelish wine that gets 92 points from me.  Well hidden 14.4% alcohol and a long finish make this a 5 star wine.  Salut….

707 rockpile cabernet franc

Worlds End Cabernet Franc Reserve ‘Against The Wind’ 2009

19 Friday Dec 2014

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I will pre-empt this post with the fact that I only bought a six pack, silly me.  Straight out of the bottle and into my glass for a lovely perfumed nose of violets, plums and cocoa.  Fruity and full-on explosion of blue fruits, pomegranate, mint and raspberry that sort of surprised me. Full bodied and almost syrupy, this wine has texture. Fine grained tannins are well integrated and the balance is razor sharp. Wow, this is good Cabernet Franc, and you know how I love this varietal. 93 points from me (One of the pros gave it 92, close enough).  2014-2019 would be a great window to enjoy this powerful, structured wine.  So easy to drink all by itself but it would pair beautifully with a lean cut of beef, perhaps coq-au-vin as well.  This wine has a near perfect mouthfeel for me.  Made by the famous Jonathan Maltus, this time from Napa Valley instead of his usual stomping grounds in Bordeaux.  Who wouldn’t pay $25 for this wine?  5 stars for sure.  Salut….

Worlds End Cabernet Franc Reserve Against The Wind

Chateau Lamarsalle 2010

18 Thursday Dec 2014

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From Montagne St. Emilion comes this rather tasty wine.  Bright purple with a nose of kirsch, cassis and oak.  Crisp opening with a dried blueberry, spice box, graphite.  Mouth coating tannins are smooth and offset by some balanced acidity. This is a delicious, young wine that highlights the best of 2010 Bordeaux. Easily enjoyed now, it has the stuffing to cellar until 2020 at least. I’m willing to bet this one develops those beautiful secondary flavors that the region is famous for. Perfumed smoothness is instantly credited to the 55% Cab Franc, the balance is Merlot. Yummy and 90 points for this $20 effort.  4 stars.  Salut….

chateau lamarsalle

Smith Wooton Cabernet Franc Napa Valley 2011

03 Friday Oct 2014

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This wine came highly recommended from a little wine shop in North Carolina where I visited last summer.  I paid around $36 for it and there were only 135 cases made.  I love this varietal and was waiting to pair this bottle with some Strip steaks, it was tasty starting with the raisin and cranberry nose.  A floral hit with black plums and lavender greeted me on the initial attack. Gripping tannins and juicy acidity gave this wine some serious structure yet I felt it was slightly one dimensional on the mid palate.  Heat on the back end that hit the nostrils made me look up the level-14.5%.  A slightly green finish dropped one point off this otherwise good wine.  89 points and 3 stars from me.  I would hold off and cellar this wine, drinking from 2016-2020.  Salut….

smith wooton cabernet franc

Cosentino ‘The Franc’ 2012

02 Sunday Feb 2014

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Moxie and I went out to dinner with some dear friends last night at our local Cajun/Korean Fusion restaurant.  Don’t laugh, it’s an amazing combination of flavors and the food is presented in a very neat way that is meant for sharing, Tapas style.  My mate drinks white wine (which I will review later, but his wife Mercedes and I shared this Lodi Cabernet Franc.  It is 76% Franc with 20% Cab Sav and a dollop of Malbec.  I really enjoy this winery’s offerings, they are always well made, smooth and easily accessible.  This one was not far from the mark, albeit on a much more reasonable scale.  At $12 retail, it was a bargain.  Slightly tight on the nose, the purple juice flowed with black currant, dark blueberry and some white pepper.  The structure was firm as expected for such a young wine but it was drinking well.  The Franc had a nice perfume to it once it got going and the Cab Sav did wonders for the tannic backbone.  I enjoyed this wine with dinner and would like to add a few bottles to the cellar for the near future drinking.  88 points and 4 stars from me.  Salut….

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Vergelegen Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc 2009

06 Friday Dec 2013

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From South Africa comes this amazing Bordeaux blend for a mere $15.  Inky purple in the glass it showed off dark fruits on the nose with a hint of mintiness.  The flavor was sublime and the finish was nice and dry from the firm tannins.  The purple flavors of plums and blackcurrant were mingled with some slight oak and cassis.  Very balanced and showing complexity, I loved this wine.  I have read about it in several magazines over the years and this is the first time I have seen it in the shops, I  will be back to buy more.  Still young but drinkable, I reckon it will start to peak in 2015 and go for another 5 years.  I would pair this with Venison or Lamb chops all day long.  5 stars for this 91 point effort.  Salut….

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d’Arenberg The Galvo Garage 2008

04 Wednesday Dec 2013

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Another wine from this awesome winery in Mclaren Vale, Australia.  This bottle is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot- the cornerstones of the Bordeaux blend.  I was really excited to try this as the blend is right up my alley.  Bold and beautiful in the glass it showed its power right away.  Plums and Black cherries with a rich and smoky oak  came blasting throughout the gripping tannins.  On the backend came a eucalyptus tinge that was very interesting.  The wine is very young and in need of cellaring, perhaps from 2014- 2020 is where I would think it’s peak is.  Great balance and structure make this $23 wine a bargain.  Think Roast Beef and this wine will sing.  91 points and 5 stars from me.  I think I need to get more for the dungeon. Salut….

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