One of the best domestic CFs out there. and I dare say at 10 years old, this one probably needs another one or two years before it is at the top. Nose of pink and white wildflowers. Entry with young fig & tobacco. Also black cherry, herbs, and fig. Rather brambly and then a touch acidic on the finish which was a bit of a surprise. I'd probably hold these another year or two, but if you are going to drink them at least give it a couple of hours to decant. I think the entire bottle lasted about twenty minutes for us.......
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Thought I would peek into this one. The initial taste told me that this wine needed to be DECANTED. It was, and oh mama it did it well. Dark chocolate nose laced with a bit of tar and some black cherry. Almost kind of a basil or oregano in the middle but nice backbone of aged raspberry. Finish where it is still even a little bit acidic but it is rather resolved. Showing everything it has.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep red center, red rim with modest signs of age. Sweet, plums, herbaceous, tobacco leaf. Smooth, red currants, blueberries, green pepper, classic cab franc, creamy, modest tannins and acidity. Excellent Cab Franc, drinking very well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
So the 10 is awesome. The 11 is good. This 09 is incredible. Soft and graceful on the entry and then murders the back of your palate with just about everything from baking spice to bramble to licorice. Thought I even detected a little chocolate brownie or perhaps cocoa note somewhere in there with a hint of anise. William Harrison, I sound like a broken record when I say that you have set the bar for Rutherford as far as I'm concerned. Nice wine. Glad I have a couple more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Contributed 2 tasting notes on this one. This one tonight was just as epic as the other 2. A very nice, nice wine, and going to be sad when the other 3 are gone. I think I've got another 5-7 years!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I didn't make really good cliff's notes on this one, but I remembered thinking that this one has almost come into prime, but is still probably a year away before this is in the "OMG REALLY??!!?!" realm. Not going to rate this experience mainly because I have just about forgotten every note with exception to brambly notes and Rutherford dust on the front (boysenberry and black cherry) and rather gritty tannin on the finish. This was a full bodied wine no doubt, and would put many a 2009 Cab Francs to shame already. Out of my 48 bottles in the Rutherford AVA, almost 30 of them are from William Harrison. This producer has harvested the true embodiment of Rutherford. No reason to buy anything else to represent the Rutherford AVA.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a deep, dark and dense wine. Popped and poured with minimal bottle decant. The nose had a little floral hibiscus and wildflower, but there was quite a bit of black cherry and almost a hint of vanilla. A little bit of heat on the nostrils kind of like a kirsch. It was actually very enjoyable, and somewhat unique. On the palate, rich full bodied red raspberry and underripe cherry danced with some bramble. Very true to Cab Franc. The mid-palate is where this one turned a little darker, more intense, showing off more of a fruit core than a floral bomb (thank goodness). No heat on the finish, but quite a bit of tannin. Rutherford dust is present here, but I can't tell if it's the franc, the tannin, or the dust! This one is a BABY,....and will hold for at least another 10 years. I really don't think this one can be properly rated at this time, hence an NR rating, as it simply needs another 1-2 years in the bottle to develop. Drink 2016-2023.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Napa Valley Wine and Food Excursion 2013; 9/30/2013-10/5/2013 (Napa Valley, California): This stylish wine (100% Cabernet Franc) is wonderfully pure and rich, with a core of bramble fruits, blueberries, cedar, and Asian spices, all cloaked in toasty oak. Full-bodied on the palate, its flavors are supported by a frame of medium acidity, firm tannins and seamless alcohol (14.5%). Layered and building in the middle, it concludes with a long, dusty finish. Despite being vinified without blending, this wine shows no "green" element which so often plagues this varietal. Time in the cellar will be beneficial here. Drink 2016-2025.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/11/2019 - mflesh wrote: 94 Points
One of the best domestic CFs out there. and I dare say at 10 years old, this one probably needs another one or two years before it is at the top. Nose of pink and white wildflowers. Entry with young fig & tobacco. Also black cherry, herbs, and fig. Rather brambly and then a touch acidic on the finish which was a bit of a surprise. I'd probably hold these another year or two, but if you are going to drink them at least give it a couple of hours to decant. I think the entire bottle lasted about twenty minutes for us.......
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2018 - mflesh wrote: 95 Points
Thought I would peek into this one. The initial taste told me that this wine needed to be DECANTED. It was, and oh mama it did it well. Dark chocolate nose laced with a bit of tar and some black cherry. Almost kind of a basil or oregano in the middle but nice backbone of aged raspberry. Finish where it is still even a little bit acidic but it is rather resolved. Showing everything it has.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2017 - pdadams66 wrote: 91 Points
Really singing tonight. Intense blackcurrant and blueberries on the nose. Sweetness and depth in the mouth. Very long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2017 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep red center, red rim with modest signs of age.
Sweet, plums, herbaceous, tobacco leaf.
Smooth, red currants, blueberries, green pepper, classic cab franc, creamy, modest tannins and acidity.
Excellent Cab Franc, drinking very well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2015 - mflesh wrote: 92 Points
So the 10 is awesome. The 11 is good. This 09 is incredible. Soft and graceful on the entry and then murders the back of your palate with just about everything from baking spice to bramble to licorice. Thought I even detected a little chocolate brownie or perhaps cocoa note somewhere in there with a hint of anise. William Harrison, I sound like a broken record when I say that you have set the bar for Rutherford as far as I'm concerned. Nice wine. Glad I have a couple more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2015 - mflesh wrote:
Contributed 2 tasting notes on this one. This one tonight was just as epic as the other 2. A very nice, nice wine, and going to be sad when the other 3 are gone. I think I've got another 5-7 years!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2015 - mflesh wrote:
I didn't make really good cliff's notes on this one, but I remembered thinking that this one has almost come into prime, but is still probably a year away before this is in the "OMG REALLY??!!?!" realm. Not going to rate this experience mainly because I have just about forgotten every note with exception to brambly notes and Rutherford dust on the front (boysenberry and black cherry) and rather gritty tannin on the finish. This was a full bodied wine no doubt, and would put many a 2009 Cab Francs to shame already. Out of my 48 bottles in the Rutherford AVA, almost 30 of them are from William Harrison. This producer has harvested the true embodiment of Rutherford. No reason to buy anything else to represent the Rutherford AVA.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2014 - mflesh wrote:
This is a deep, dark and dense wine. Popped and poured with minimal bottle decant. The nose had a little floral hibiscus and wildflower, but there was quite a bit of black cherry and almost a hint of vanilla. A little bit of heat on the nostrils kind of like a kirsch. It was actually very enjoyable, and somewhat unique. On the palate, rich full bodied red raspberry and underripe cherry danced with some bramble. Very true to Cab Franc. The mid-palate is where this one turned a little darker, more intense, showing off more of a fruit core than a floral bomb (thank goodness). No heat on the finish, but quite a bit of tannin. Rutherford dust is present here, but I can't tell if it's the franc, the tannin, or the dust! This one is a BABY,....and will hold for at least another 10 years. I really don't think this one can be properly rated at this time, hence an NR rating, as it simply needs another 1-2 years in the bottle to develop. Drink 2016-2023.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2013 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 91 Points
Napa Valley Wine and Food Excursion 2013; 9/30/2013-10/5/2013 (Napa Valley, California): This stylish wine (100% Cabernet Franc) is wonderfully pure and rich, with a core of bramble fruits, blueberries, cedar, and Asian spices, all cloaked in toasty oak. Full-bodied on the palate, its flavors are supported by a frame of medium acidity, firm tannins and seamless alcohol (14.5%). Layered and building in the middle, it concludes with a long, dusty finish. Despite being vinified without blending, this wine shows no "green" element which so often plagues this varietal. Time in the cellar will be beneficial here. Drink 2016-2025.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment