Cabernet Franc

In a recent tasting of Loire reds, this was the run away winner.  100% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose  has black cherries, slight cedary notes and chalk.  Silky texture.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, the black cherry fruit comes thru with some underlying chalk.  Deep.  Light tannins.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is nice on its own and would  work nicely with grilled meats or roasted veggies.  It may still improve a bit but should drink well for another eight to twelve years.  

This is 100% Cabernet Franc from the difficult 2014 vintage.  Ruby in color with a purple core.  The nose has black cherries with slight coffee.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  This is probably a bit past peak but still drinking well.  Nice depth.  Good finish.  The wine will work better with food.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

This is Cab Franc from Uruguay!  Purple/ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, bell peppers, tobacco and slight chocolate.  Medium bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Lovely texture.  On the palate, this has juicy acidity.  Black cherry fruit with underlying char.  Long finish.  Blind, I would have guessed it from the Loire Valley.  Drinking well now, it should continue for another eight to ten years.  Nice on its own but better with food.  This would be a perfect wine with (Veggie) Burgers off the grill.  

A very nice Cab Franc and a nice value.  Purple in color, some ruby, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight cigar box, slighter bell pepper, and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with some tobacco and slight bell pepper.  Good finish.  Drinking well and should continue for seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with Lamb Stew.  

This is a blend of 42% Cabernet Franc, 42% Merlot, and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Impressive showing.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight at first but opens to show black cherries, cherries, chocolate, and brown tobacco.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Wonderful velvety texture.  On the palate, this is delicious with black cherries, iodine, blueberries and crushed leaves.  Complex.  Still not fully mature but getting there.  Long finish.  No harm opening now, but another five to eight years and this might get a 100 score.  Great on its own, it will take big food right

This is 100% Cabernet Franc.  After fermentation, it spent 12 months in amphora where it underwent malolactic fermentation.  The result is an outstanding wine.  Black cherry in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is tight at first but opens to show black cherries, smoke, and baking spices.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, slight cigar box and very concentrated.  Nice finish.  Still young, this will improve. Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Lamb chops would go quite well.  

Located in Southern Tuscany, Val Delle Rose is one of the largest wineries in the region. Their 2018 Aurelio, something of a flagship wine, offers superb quality fruit - muted pomegranate, rhubarb, black cherry, blackberry, along with a judicious use of oak that brings out cedar notes. There are vague back notes of dusty cocoa. This is a nicely balanced wine that combines all the necessary elements of oak, fruit, tannin and acidity, making for a wine that would be very complementary for any number of foods.

Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, tobacco and slight barnyard.  Great texture   Tannins are all integrated.  Complex and deep.  Just about at peak.  Layers of cherries and black cherries and also some tobacco.  Good finish.  Delicious.  This drinks well on its own but is better with food.  Lamb stew would be a nice choice.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

This is the flagship wine of one of Hungary's leading wineries.  It is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc; 40% Merlot; 10% Cabernet Sauvignon with the grapes coming from the Csillagvölgy, Konkoly, Kopár, and Ördögárok vineyards.  Purple in color, opaque  but a bit cloudy.  The nose is nice with dust, spice and cherries.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Black cherry fruit with some cherries and a sli graphite note.  Pinpoint balance.  Nice, silky finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to for another ten to twelve years.  It will go well wit

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.  The label list 15% abv.  Purple in color, garnet at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, spice and slight cigar box.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis and black cherries with some underlying spice.  Very ripe for Hungary.  Quite delicious.  Enough acidity to work at the dinner table, it also drinks great on its own.  This needs strong flavors to stand up to it.  Pörkölt (Meat stew) would be a nice choice.  Drink over the next ten years.