Bought on release ($26) and cellared well. Light ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose is nice earthy with cherries. Hints of green tobacco drying in a barn. On the palate, black cherries and minerals with a nice, slightly bitter streak. This is at peak now and I would drink in the next few years. Complex. Food friendly. Nice showing.
Such a fun wine. The biggest issue I have is that I tend to drink this on (or near) Halloween as soon as I get it.
Detert is one of the owners of a section of the To Kalon vineyard. Way back in the day they used to sell to Robert Mondavi. For my money, they make the best Cabernet Franc in Napa and some of the best in the world. While it is not inexpensive, for the quality, it is well priced (in Napa terms). Definitely a mailing list to be on. Purple in color, a thin ruby line at the rim. The nose is great with black cherries, cigar tobacco, slight char and a bit of earthiness. On the palate, this is open and drinking well if still young. Medium tannins. Lots of black cherry fruit with some with
During a recent visit to the Napa Valley, I had a chance to meet with Tom Garrett. Tom is part of the Detert Family of wines who own a portion of the historic To Kalon vineyard. The Detert's and the MacDonalds are cousins whose lineage goes back to a common owner of a parcel of the vineyard from the early 1950's. The Detert's portion grows mostly Cabernet Franc although there is some Cabernet Sauvignon. This particular bottling is their top Cabernet Franc and it is as good as any made anywhere. Although still very young, this is a wine that has great concentration and will age graceful
This is another label from Cathy Corison who is known for making old school Napa Cabs and other wines. Despite the coolness of the vintage, this wine manages to not show under ripe qualities and yet be consistent with the Corison style. Ruby/purple in color. The nose has black cherries, cherries, cigar tobacco and slight dustiness. On the palate, this has a nice complexity. Drinks a bit older than it is but that is more profile than age. Dust, tobacco, dried and fresh cherries. Good balance. Food friendly. Nice finish. $53. This is a nice change of pace for Napa and easily has an
What a great bottle for Halloween! Cool label front and back and really good wine. This is 100% Cabernet Franc from Rutherford. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright. The nose takes about 30 minutes to open then shows nice ripe Cab Franc, that is to say, black cherries, some black raspberries, coffee, dark chocolate, just a bit of cigar tobacco. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, lots of black cherry and black raspberry fruit with underlying coffee and tobacco. Long finish. Gives this some air if opening this Halloween, it really got going after being
