October 8, 2021 - Gift to Pantucci
May 17, 2021 - Black fruit, herbal notes, cedar, layered complexity, . Smokey oak
June 21, 2020 - Drinking very well right now, especially after about 30 minutes in a decanter.
May 25, 2020 - Minerals and red fruit with medium tannins. Good now.
May 6, 2020 - This is amazing. The only thing missing is Delia, Janet & Alan. Robust, well rounded black raspberry/cherry! Perfect with Margret Duck with Cherry sauce. Allow time for aeration. Lovely now but will cellar well for several years.
October 30, 2017 - IMW - Cab / Cab Franc Panel Tasting 2018 (Hyatt, San Francisco): 100% Cab Franc.
Deep ruby color. Superripe black cherry nose, hints of cough-syrup level ripeness. No pyrazines. Slight suggestion of ripe blackcurrant juice. Strong impression of oak (gingerbread, banana bread crust, sweet vanilla). The nose evokes a picture of overripe yet also tart dilute fruit.
Dry, full-bodied, feels 14.5% alcohol, elevated acid, high tannins - chewy and oaky - cinnamon and nutmeg. It's hard to find the Cab Franc in this wine. This is expensive winemaking, but aesthetically I don't get it. This is cab franc for lovers of high-end Napa Cab, not for people who like Chinon or Saint Emilion.
Tastes like 100% new French oak.
From Delia: “Our CF is a Cheval Blanc clone. CF is the ‘doughnut’ - It can be hollow in the middle. DARE (cab franc) is meant to have more approachable texture, and to be consumed sooner.”
October 30, 2017 - MW 2017 SIT DOWN CABERNET FRANC/CABERNET SAUVIGNON TASTING WITH Delia Viader. 100% Howell Mountain Cabernet Franc. Nose of mint, licorice, minerals, same on the palate, big body, cool mint rather than sweet tasting, very tasty, rich mouthfeel, rich fruit, long finish, needs 4 years to peak.