This is 100% Cabernet Franc from the central Loire Valley in France. Made from 60 year old vines. Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is classic with black cherries, fresh tobacco, cigar box, slight bell pepper, and spices. Medium to full bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, this has complexity and some depth. Flavors of black cherries, black raspberries and a slight green bell pepper note. Long finish. This is nice on its own but better with food. This would work well with stuffed peppers (either lentils or ground meat). Drink over the next ten years.
Rich and bold, this Cabernet is in the vein of “new school” Napa Cabernet; which is to say unashamedly rich, forward fruit, potent oak, and a no holds barred take on a formidable Napa cab. That’s not to say it isn’t well structured, because this certainly is, and Turnbull is well-known for making structured Cabernets. In point of fact they have been doing so for a long time, and I have reviewed many of their wines over the years. This offers very ripe blackberry and blueberry fruit, plum, noticeable oak notes, including vanilla, sandalwood, and slightly sweet charred oak.
