Cabernet Franc

This is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the state of Maryland.  Enrique and Felipe Pallares, originally from Ecuador, founded this winery in 2017.  Good wines are being made all over these days.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is very earthy with a bit of barnyard, but also tobacco, dried cherries and black cherries.  On the palate, there is some Brettanomyces.  Not off putting but noticeable.  There is also some black cherry fruit and underlying forest floor.  There is some complexity here.  It drinks well on its own and would work well wi

From one of the premier producers of Cabernet Franc in California.  The vines are part of what was historically To Kalon vineyard.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, slight cigar tobacco and cedar.  Wonderful texture.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, lots of black cherries, some cassis with underlying spice.  Lots of energy.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This should last another ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, better with food.  Roast duck or chicken would be great.  

Nice to try this from a "lesser" vintage but with some nice age on it.  It is in a very good place right now.  It is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, tobacco and a slight herbal notes.  Also a but of spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis with underlying char.  Lots of depth.  Nice finish.  This won't get better but it is drinking very nicely and should continue for another eight to twelve years.  It works on its own but worked great with mushroom ravioli.  A great example of great

This is drinking well and at maturity (although no hurry).  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, iron, slight tobacco and slight iodine.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has black cherry fruit with underlying tobacco and a bit of that iron note.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  This will work better with food.  Roasted chicken or vegetables would work well.

Rusell Bevan is a superstar winemaker who has many projects going.  The EE Cuvee is consistently one of my favorites.  This vintage is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet France from the Tench and Tin Box vineyards.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, spice, tobacco and char.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a great texture; lush with firm tannins.  This is a big wine that is still drinking young.  It will take another ten to fifteen years to reach maturity.  Once there it should last for another twenty.  That said, it

This is 100% old school Cabernet Franc from the Loire valley in France.  Coming in at 12.5% ABV, this is a classic Loire Red wine.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and mostly bright.  The nose has black cherries, tobacco, some bell pepper, slight "twigs and sticks".  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this drinks easy but needs some food.  Some black cherry fruit with plenty of forest floor and tobacco.  A bit of green bell pepper.  Moderate finish.  This would work well with lamb stew.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

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

It is not clear if this is a vintage wine.  The back label states "Assemblage 2018".  It is a blend of 31% Cabernet Franc, 26% Syrah, 22% Carmenere, 11% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Made from organic grapes.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries with an interesting minty streak.  Also some black pepper and a slight floral not with a bit of air.  On the palate, medium tannins.  Notes of black cherries and black raspberries.  Some peppery notes.  Nice finish.  This improved with about an hour of air.  Somewhat complex and very interesting.  This should drink

This is 90% Cabernet Franc, 7% Carménère, and 3% Petit Verdot from Chile.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with tobacco and black cherries.  Medium to full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, and roasted Rosemary notes.  A bit of cherry candy on the finish.  Overall a more elegant Cab Franc that is drinking well now and should continue for the next decade.  This will work well with lamb stew or other slowly braised meat dishes.  

This is a rose made from Cabernet Franc and Merlot in Virginia.  Light pink in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with strawberries and some watermelon.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, this is crisp and clean.  It drinks quite easily and there is nice watermelon fruit.  Moderate finish.  This drinks well on its own but should work with all but the heaviest of meat dishes.  Drink over the next year.